Cade Cunningham delivered a historic performance Monday night, erupting for a career-high 46 points to push the Detroit Pistons past the Washington Wizards 137–135 in overtime at Little Caesars Arena.
The Pistons moved to 9–2 and extended their win streak to seven games, surviving a night in which their franchise guard took 45 shots — the most by any NBA player this season.
Cunningham finished with 12 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals and two blocks.
Detroit needed every bit of his production to erase a late deficit against a Washington team that fell to 1–10 and dropped its ninth straight.
CJ McCollum scored a season-high 42 points and guided the Wizards to a 117–108 lead with 4:05 left in regulation, using ball screens to create separation and hitting five threes.
Cunningham responded by attacking the paint for contact finishes and getting to the free-throw line, where he went 16 for 18.
His most impactful play came with Detroit trailing 127–124 in the final seconds, when he inbounded to Daniss Jenkins in the left corner for the tying three that forced overtime.
Jenkins closed with 24 points on nine-for-17 shooting and delivered multiple timely drives when Washington collapsed on Cunningham.
Jalen Duren added 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven offensive boards, helping Detroit withstand Washington’s 52.6 percent shooting night.
In overtime, Duncan Robinson hit a go-ahead three from the right wing with 1:04 remaining, giving Detroit a 134–133 lead it would not relinquish.
Cunningham followed by slipping past a trap for a mid-range jumper, capping a night in which he shot 14 for 45 from the field and 2 for 11 from deep but controlled the clock and tempo throughout the extra period.
Washington received strong performances beyond McCollum’s scoring burst, including 20 points from Cam Whitmore and a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double from Alex Sarr.
Kyshawn George contributed 14 points and six assists, and Marvin Bagley III provided needed bench scoring with nine points, three steals and three blocks in 16 minutes.
The Wizards, however, committed 20 turnovers and missed key shots in overtime, including two late attempts from McCollum that could have extended the game.
Detroit finished the night with 63 rebounds — 28 on the offensive glass — and earned 38 free-throw attempts while scoring 40 points in the fourth quarter.
Despite the heavy workload, Cunningham secured his 12th career triple-double and anchored the league’s top team in the East as they continue a four-game homestand.
Detroit hosts Chicago on Wednesday, while Washington travels to Houston seeking its first road win of the season.
