New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) drives the lane against Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) during the first half of the basketball game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (Staff Photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune)
STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
The Detroit Pistons didn’t have All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham, and they didn’t need him.
Cunningham, who leads the Pistons (32-10) in scoring (25.7 points per game) and is second in the NBA in assists (9.8), did not play because of a left hip contusion, but the Eastern Conference leaders found a balanced offense without him to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 112-104 on Wednesday night in the Smoothie King Center.
Jalen Duren had 20 points and 15 rebounds; Daniss Jenkins scored 17; Duncan Robinson had 15; Ausar Thompson chipped in 12; and Tobias Harris scored 10 for Detroit, which never trailed.
Saddiq Bey scored 20 points; rookie Micah Peavy scored a season-high 17; Trey Murphy scored 17; Jeremiah Fears had 12; and Jordan Poole added 11 for the Pelicans (10-36), who start a three-game road trip when they visit Memphis at 7 p.m. Friday. These teams meet again March 26 in Detroit.
Zion Williamson played despite an illness that had his availability in question until 30 minutes before tipoff. He showed the effects, finishing with just four points and four rebounds in less than 15 minutes before going to the locker room for good less than four minutes into the third quarter.
Detroit extended its six-point halftime lead to 12 points midway through the quarter. Five Pelicans made one field goal each, and they climbed within 89-84 at the end of the third quarter.
The Pistons pushed the lead to 11 points early in the fourth quarter before Peavy scored five points and Bey had four to help New Orleans get within 101-96. Detroit scored the next six points for an 11-point lead with 2:58 remaining and wasn’t threatened again.
The Pistons made five of their first six shots, including three of four 3-pointers, to race to a 13-0 lead while the Pelicans were missing four shots and committing four turnovers.
New Orleans scored the next nine points, but Detroit rebuilt the lead to 12. Peavy made two 3-pointers and Karlo Matkovic and Murphy added one each to help the Pelicans creep within 34-30 at the end of the first quarter.
The Pistons started the second quarter with a 9-2 run to take an 11-point lead. They led by 11 a second time before eight Pelicans scored during a finishing push to close within 68-62 at halftime.