DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons looked out of luck with their six-game winning streak on its last leg. A short-handed roster due to injuries appeared exhausted and ready to regroup after a run of form that shot them to the top of the Eastern Conference.
But Monday night at Little Caesars Arena, the Pistons weren’t ready to cede their winning streak to the last-place Washington Wizards. Returning from a double-digit deficit for the NBA-leading sixth time this season, the Pistons pushed their winning streak to seven in a 137-135 overtime victory.
Cade Cunningham, led the way with a career-high 46-point triple-double, while it was two-way guard Daniss Jenkins adding a career-best 24 points off the bench and sinking the buzzer-beating three-pointer to send the game to overtime.
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The Pistons (9-2) came in with a limited roster from the jump with Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart remaining out and Caris LeVert and Ausar Thompson being late downgrades on the second night of a back-to-back.
Missing four of their key players and the team on their third game in four nights, defense was the hardest thing to come by.
The Wizards (1-10) opened shooting 70% from the field and growing a six-point lead in the first behind CJ McCollum, who finished with 42 points. Cunningham delivered an 11-point first quarter to keep the matchup tight.
Coming out of a timeout, the Pistons went on an 8-0 run started by a three from rookie Chaz Lanier — who played a season-high 26 minutes — and finished by Cunningham scoring at the rim on a fast break and earning a trip to the line for an and-one.
The Pistons had to cycle through their lineup even more than expected after forward Ron Holland picked up a pair of early fouls and center Jalen Duren was given some time to rest early after playing 37 minutes the prior night.
Lanier, two-way guard Daniss Jenkins and center Paul Reed all contributed multiple early baskets off the bench as the Wizards struggled with turnovers to the tune of 11 in the first half.
As the Pistons committed their fewest fouls in any half of basketball this season — with six — Cunningham led a late 16-9 run for the Pistons to take a 67-61 lead into the break.
The fatigue and thin bench really started to show in the third quarter as offensive possessions struggled to make their way into the paint and the Pistons stumbled to 26% shooting from the field in the period.
Cunningham added another six points, but he did so on 12 shots, making just two of them and adding five misses to Detroit’s 13-for-41 finish from beyond the arc.
Despite the Wizards shooting over 30% better from the field in the third quarter, the Pistons trailed by just nine points heading into the final 12 minutes.
Jenkins continued to provide a spark on his career night with eight rebounds and three assists off the bench to go with his offensive output.
A brief injury scare for Cunningham after hitting the court hard on a dunk attempt saw him exit the court briefly, but he returned before play restarted again and it set him off down the stretch.
Following his exit and return, Cunningham scored 10 of Detroit’s final 15 points and pulled the team as close as two points. But it was Jenkins who delivered the clutch basket of the night with a last-second three-pointer from the corner to send the game to overtime.
With a renewed energy, the Pistons made their move at the lead with Duncan Robinson splashing a three from the top of the key. After a defensive stop, Javonte Green followed with a cut to the rim after he missed a shot from deep. Duren delivered a perfect pass for him to deliver a dunk that set off the crowd.
A pair of defensive stops in the closing moments secured the win and one of the gutsiest games of the season for Detroit.
BOX SCORE
Up next: The Pistons continue their home stand against the Chicago Bulls Wednesday night.
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