DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons’ improbable winning streak isn’t over quite yet.
Going down by as much as 12 points in the second half to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Pistons once again erased a double-digit deficit to earn another short-handed victory and advance their winning streak to nine games.
Two-way guard Daniss Jenkins — with 19 points and eight assists — alongside Javonte Green’s 21-point, nine-rebound performance pushed the Pistons to an NBA Cup win at Little Caesars Arena Friday night, 114-105.
This is the NBA-leading seventh time the Pistons (11-2) have come back from trailing by double digits to win a game this season.
The Pistons were once again without numerous key players due to injury, including their top-four scorers Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris.
Forward Isaiah Stewart returned after a three-game absence off the bench, checking in midway through the first quarter to a great reception from the crowd at LCA.
He posted 14 points and seven rebounds in a limited return as he played 23 minutes of the game.
After starting for the second straight game, Paul Reed picked up right where he left off, finishing at rim and then putting up an emphatic dunk after rolling to the basket.
It was a team effort in the first quarter to give the Pistons a 28-27 lead at the first break. Nine different Piston players scored in the quarter.
An 11-3 run for the 76ers (7-5) to start the second quarter quarter thanks to a trio of threes on consecutive possessions put the Pistons in a hole.
Green played the unexpected hero as he scored 13 points in the quarter, including three makes from beyond the arc, which tied his career-high for a game.
Duncan Robinson, who remains the only Pistons player to start every game this season, continued to deliver in his new role with 13 points in the first half.
The electric play from Green helped build out a 63-54 lead at halftime.
The 76ers quickly erased the deficit and grew a lead with a 14-0 run to open the third quarter as Detroit turned the ball over seven times in under six minutes of game time.
The Pistons went down by 12 after their sloppy start to the half, but it set off a 23-9, including a buzzer-beating half-court shot from Jenkins to pull Detroit back in the matchup.
After grabbing his own missed three-point try in the fourth quarter, Chaz Lanier delivered a ball to Reed to put the Pistons in front 94-92, setting off the crowd at LCA.
The Pistons wouldn’t give up the lead the rest of the way despite 31 points from 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey and another 18 points from rookie VJ Edgecombe.
Veteran guard Caris LeVert played a critical role in putting away Philadelphia, coming alive in the fourth quarter for nine points, knocking down a pair of three-pointers to push Detroit out in front.
Six Pistons scored double digits as Detroit continues to solidify its spot atop the Eastern Conference.
BOX SCORE
Up next: The Pistons get two much-needed days off before hosting the reigning Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers (1-11).
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