NEW YORK — In an impressive performance on Wednesday night, the Detroit Pistons secured their fifth consecutive victory, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 113-98 at Barclays Center. Malik Beasley led the team by contributing 23 points, while Cade Cunningham added 13 points along with five assists and five rebounds.
The Pistons showcased their strength in depth, exemplified by their bench outscoring Brooklyn’s 50-20. Simone Fontecchio played a pivotal role with 17 points off the bench, while Marcus Sasser chipped in with 15 points. Detroit’s recent form has been strong, winning eight of their last nine matches and improving to a record of 19-18, moving above .500 for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
On the other hand, the Nets struggled as Noah Clowney led his team with a game-high 29 points. Tyrese Martin contributed with 12 points and 10 rebounds. This loss marked the Nets’ third consecutive defeat and extended their home losing streak to seven games, highlighting their challenges this season.
Despite Cade Cunningham’s regular performance averaging 24.4 points and nearly 9.5 assists per game, he had an off night but was well supported by his teammates. Players like Fontecchio, Sasser, and Tim Hardaway Jr., who scored 10 points, helped the Pistons achieve an impressive shooting percentage of 52.3% and significantly outpaced the Nets in fast-break points, tallying 38 to their 13.
The Nets were notably short-handed, missing six key players, including their leading scorers Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas, as well as D’Angelo Russell. This absence negatively impacted their offensive output, resulting in a shooting percentage of just 38.4%. The Nets also found themselves outplayed in the paint, being outscored 54-36.
A crucial moment in the game occurred when Brooklyn, trailing by 13 points in the third quarter, managed to narrow the gap to 70-64 following a 7-0 run. However, the Pistons quickly countered with a 6-0 run, eventually escalating their lead with a 21-4 surge led by Fontecchio, who contributed eight points during this stretch, including two three-pointers, bringing the score to 91-68.
With this victory, the Pistons have secured a significant milestone, achieving a positive win-loss record through 37 games for the first time in several seasons.
Looking ahead, the Pistons are set to host the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, while the Nets will face the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.
