The Detroit Pistons pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure a 115-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. Cade Cunningham broke out of his slump by scoring nine of his 15 points in the final period, helping Detroit (34-27) maintain its position as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Cunningham struggled in his previous game, scoring a season-low 11 points against Denver, and had just six points through three quarters versus Brooklyn. He came alive in the fourth, converting a three-pointer and two three-point plays to help the Pistons extend their lead.
Detroit got balanced scoring, with Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, and Jalen Duren each contributing 18 points. The Pistons bounced back from their loss to the Nuggets, which ended their eight-game winning streak.
Brooklyn (21-39) suffered its fourth consecutive defeat despite a career-high 23 points off the bench from Tyrese Martin. The Nets’ starters combined for just 47 points and were outscored 73-47 by Detroit’s first unit.
The Pistons set the tone early, shooting 68.2% in the first quarter and taking a 39-22 lead. They made seven of nine three-pointers in the opening period, putting Brooklyn in an early hole.
The Nets clawed back and cut the deficit to six entering the fourth, but Cunningham sparked a 16-6 run to push the lead to 95-81 with just over seven minutes remaining. Brooklyn missed 14 of its first 16 shots in the final quarter, including all six three-point attempts.
Killian Hayes, who played his first four seasons with Detroit, faced boos from the home crowd. He finished with four points and three assists in 25 minutes for Brooklyn.
Detroit’s defense played a key role, limiting the Nets to 30.5% shooting from the field and 15.4% from beyond the arc. Cameron Johnson struggled, shooting 3-for-20 and missing all 10 of his three-point attempts.
Duren dominated inside, finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and six blocks. Beasley provided a spark off the bench, hitting five three-pointers. Jalen Wilson was one of the few bright spots for Brooklyn, adding 14 points.
The Pistons outrebounded the Nets 47-38 and registered 15 blocks. They also moved the ball effectively, finishing with 31 assists on 39 made field goals.
With the win, Detroit remains in the mix for a top-six seed and direct playoff entry. Brooklyn, now 18 games below .500, continues to struggle without key players due to injuries.
