DALLAS — The Detroit Pistons lost a pair of starters to an ejection and injury, were shooting under 40% in the third quarter and had 16 fewer foul shots than the Dallas Mavericks.
Still, the top team in the Eastern Conference willed its way back from an 18-point deficit.
Back in their home state, star guard Cade Cunningham and two-way guard Daniss Jenkins combined to bring the Pistons back from an 18-point deficit with a major fourth-quarter performance and push the game to overtime.
Despite a 29-point, 10-rebounds, nine-assist night from Cunningham and a critical nine-point fourth quarter from Jenkins, the game wouldn’t make it past the first overtime.
A 23-point performance from rookie star Cooper Flagg and some clutch shots down the stretch sank the Pistons and ended a four-game winning streak after the 116-114 defeat.
The Pistons got their first burst of energy from Ausar Thompson and center Jalen Duren, working the paint against a formidable Dallas front court that features Flagg and veteran center Anthony Davis.
Thompson finished a drive to the rim and cleaned up a miss from Cade Cunningham for another basket. A Duren cutting layup saw the Pistons lead 9-8, before the first big run of the night from the Mavericks.
Flagg had a highlight-reel dunk over Cunningham, an Arlington, Texas native returning to home state, as part of a 10-0 run that was finally ended by Jaden Ivey with a finish at the rim.
Thompson remained active throughout the quarter with a steal that led to a lob for Cunningham that helped the Pistons close the gap back up, but remained a five-point deficit after the first quarter.
Despite briefly taking the lead in the second quarter off some physical makes by Isaiah Stewart and Ron Holland, things took a turn in the final five minutes of the half.
Thompson fought for a physical offensive rebound against Ryan Nembhard and was called for a foul.
After the whistle, Thompson attempted to argue the call with the official and appeared to make light contact with his arm and was instantly called for a technical foul and ejected from the game.
The Mavericks went out on an 11-2 run after the ejection. If not for seven points in the final two minutes from Cunningham, the Pistons might’ve trailed double digits at the half, but rather trailed 66-57.
Cunningham picked up his own technical in the second quarter after arguing a no call. As conversations continued with the referees to close the half, coach J.B. Bickerstaff was assessed a technical, as well.
Detroit’s roster took another hit as Duncan Robinson suffered a left knee injury after colliding with Naji Marshall early in the third quarter. He went to the locker room under his own power after having his knee checked by medical staff and didn’t return.
The Pistons started emptying out their bench, letting Paul Reed and Dallas natives Jenkins and Marcus Sasser try and spark something. Detroit didn’t find its rhythm in the third quarter, failing to score more than five unanswered points and trailed by 11 going into the final quarter.
But out of the break, they started stringing together makes, opening on a 10-2 run with a three from Sasser and a key midrange from Jenkins to pull with four points.
The Pistons continued attacking and got their lead back after a miss from Jenkins that landed right in Stewart’s hands for an easy cleanup. In the closing minutes, the Mavericks found their gas again as Davis had a pair of put backs and Marshall finished on the fastbreak to get back in front by three.
Cunningham locked back in for a driving floater and step-back make to take the lead again. Once again, the Mavericks responded as Flagg hit a driving floater and pullup jump shot in the final minute.
Stewart hitting 1-of-2 foul shots after drawing a foul from Davis was enough to send the game to overtime, tied at 110.
Cunningham was the only Detroit player to score in overtime, but hit two of just seven shots he took. The Pistons scrapped in the closing moments trying to hit a clutch shot, but a pair of makes from Davis were enough to end the night and another Detroit winning streak.
[**BOX SCORE**](https://go.skimresources.com?id=126006X1587345&xs=1&xcust=jacob-richman%7C&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nba.com%2Fgame%2Fdet-vs-dal-0022500376%2Fbox-score%23box-score&product_category=Sporting+Goods%3EAthletics%3EBasketball)
**Up next:** The Pistons return home to face the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday before setting off on a five-game road trip.