The Detroit Pistons hit the road for the first time in over two weeks and had to do so without the team’s top scorer.
Still, the Pistons found a way to notch another win by dispatching a struggling New Orleans Pelicans squad, 112-104 Wednesday night at Smoothie King Center, extending their winning streak to four games.
Detroit (32-10) led for all but 16 seconds of the game, as all five starters scored in double digits, led by Jalen Duren’s 20-point, 15-rebound double-double.
Guard play was strong on the night as Daniss Jenkins posted 17 points and four assists, with Duncan Robinson adding 15 points on 44% shooting from three.
With [All-Star Cade Cunningham out for the game](https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2026/01/cade-cunningham-ruled-out-for-pistons-after-picking-up-two-unexpected-designations.html), the Pistons spread out the offense early on. Eight Pistons made at least two baskets and scored six or more points in the first half.
Duren started with a highlight on the opening possession as the Pistons managed to rotate New Orleans’ defense to one side of the court, set up a pick and roll and have Robinson give the ball right back to Duren for a windmill dunk.
Jenkins, making the start in place of Cunningham, had a fiery introduction as well, getting involved on both ends. In the opening three minutes, Jenkins had two steals, two assists, a block and made a three-pointer all helping the Pistons get out to a 13-0 lead.
Off a Pelicans (10-36) timeout, the bottom team in the Western Conference quickly cut into the lead with a 9-0 run of their own.
Play got sloppy for both sides any time shots weren’t falling, leading to 15 combined turnovers.
Jaden Ivey set the Pistons back up by nine in the final 45 seconds of the quarter when his second three-pointer dropped, but a 5-0 run for the Pelicans left the score 34-30.
The Pistons stayed out in front the entire second quarter, but separation was minimal throughout as Jordan Poole got hot for the Pelicans with eight points in the period.
Ausar Thompson finished off a strong 10-point, six-rebound half with a late put back, but the Pelicans countered again and Yves Missi cut the lead down 68-62 with a driving hook shot before going into the break.
After shooting 50% from the field in the first half, Detroit’s offensive efficiency took a dip in the third quarter, where they converted on just 32% of shots from the field. If not for Robinson, Jenkins and Tobias Harris combining to hit 4-of-10 shots from three, the Pelicans had a chance to take over.
Trey Murphy scored eight in the third quarter to see New Orleans pull within five points. They had six offensive rebounds in the period, scoring eight second-chance points and limiting the amount of time the Pistons had with the ball.
Detroit started the fourth strong with Ron Holland pulling up and draining a three-pointer in transition, appearing to catch the Pelicans’ defense by surprise with the sudden shot. Back on the other end, Ivey intervened for a steal and the Pistons got the ball to Holland in transition, this time for a dunk to go back up double digits.
Combining some quick offense with the Pistons’ getting back to their defensive identity down the stretch made life difficult for the Pelicans. Detroit held them without a field goal for over three-and-a-half minutes of game time heading into the final two minutes.
Duren hit a pair of foul shots inside the final two minutes and took the Pistons back ahead by double digits, where the Pelicans couldn’t catch them.
Detroit’s fourth straight win ties for the second-longest streak of the season for the Pistons trailing their franchise-record 13 back in November.
[**BOX SCORE**](https://go.skimresources.com?id=126006X1587345&xs=1&xcust=jacob-richman%7C&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nba.com%2Fgame%2Fdet-vs-nop-0022500624%2Fbox-score%23box-score&product_category=Sporting+Goods%3EAthletics%3EBasketball)
**Up next:** The Pistons return home Friday night to face the Houston Rockets. Detroit won its first matchup with the Rockets on Oct. 24 in Houston.