DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons are no longer the doormat of the NBA.
Now, they’re the ones taking advantage of the NBA’s doormat.
The Pistons recorded a convincing win over the last-place Washington Wizards, 123-103, on Tuesday night in their return home from a four-game road trip.
Detroit never trailed as it overcame a sluggish first few minutes to go on a seven-point spurt and never look back.
With back-to-back home games against the Wizards, who came into the game with the NBA’s worst record at 13-50, this week represents a prime opportunity for the Pistons to gain ground in a crowded middle of the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoff picture.
With 18 games to play, the Pistons, Pacers and Bucks have separated themselves into a three-way race for the No. 4 seed and first-round home court advantage; all three were within one game of one another entering Tuesday’s play. The Pistons are 5.5 games clear of the No. 7 seed and the play-in tournament.
Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren both had double-doubles to lead the Pistons. Cunningham led the Pistons with 27 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, while Duren had 15 points and 13 rebounds while Malik Beasley went 4-for-6 from 3-point range en route to 14 points.
The Cunningham Duren combination was potent in the first half: Cunningham recorded 15 points and assisted three of Duren’s five baskets (another came on a putback from a Cunningham miss).
The duo scored three baskets in an 11-3 run early that broke a tie helped the Pistons start to take control. Detroit jumped ahead by double digits late in the first quarter and led by that much or more for nearly the rest of the game.
Washington came back from 21 down to pull within 12 points against the Pistons reserves, before the Pistons starters returned and put the game away; a flagrant foul and ejection on Washington’s Richaun Holmes with 3:13 left gave Detroit a four-point possession and a 17-point lead.
The Pistons and Wizards play the second of their back-to-back games on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena.