DETROIT – In a thrilling encounter Monday night, Cade Cunningham emerged as the star player, scoring 32 points and grabbing nine rebounds for the Detroit Pistons, who triumphed over the Los Angeles Clippers with a score of 106-97 to secure their seventh consecutive victory. Jalen Duren also made a significant contribution with a double-double, adding 12 points and a remarkable 19 rebounds. Tobias Harris chipped in with 20 points, helping the Pistons to end their streak of 10 consecutive losses against the Clippers.
The victory marked a milestone for Detroit (32-26) as they hadn’t achieved a seven-game winning streak since the stretch from December 26, 2014, to January 7, 2015. Additionally, their current record over 58 games is the best since the 2007-08 season, which was the last time they managed to secure a playoff victory.
For the Clippers, James Harden recorded 18 points along with 12 rebounds, while Ivica Zubac contributed with 13 points and 16 rebounds. However, their efforts were not enough to overcome the Pistons’ momentum.
Observations from the game pointed out that Ben Simmons of the Clippers took a night off to rest his injured left knee. In his last three games, Simmons averaged 8.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists over 23.7 minutes. The Pistons, on the other hand, had to make do without reserve forward Simone Fontecchio, who missed the game due to a hand injury sustained in a previous match against the Atlanta Hawks.
The turning point in the game came when the Pistons, leading narrowly with 77-75 and just 1:50 remaining in the third quarter, managed to widen the gap by going on an 8-0 run. This impressive streak allowed them to carry an 85-75 advantage into the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Clippers struggled offensively, missing four consecutive shots and committing a turnover, while Dennis Schroder of the Pistons added three points and an assist during this critical period.
Despite multiple attempts, Bogdan Bogdanovic struggled with his shooting. Missing seven of his first 10 shots, including all five of his 3-point attempts, he left the game midway through the third quarter after accumulating five fouls. His return in the fourth quarter did not result in better fortune as he managed 3 for 9 from the field while missing six of his seven attempts from the 3-point line.
Looking ahead, both teams will continue their rigorous schedules on Wednesday, facing their third games within a span of four days. The Clippers will head to Chicago to face the Bulls, while the Pistons will remain at home to host the Boston Celtics.
