PORTLAND, Ore. — In an exciting matchup, Cade Cunningham showcased a stellar performance by scoring 28 points as the Detroit Pistons emerged victorious over the Portland Trail Blazers with a 119-112 win on Sunday night. Tobias Harris contributed significantly, adding 20 points while hitting 9 of his 13 shot attempts.
Jalen Duren made a notable impact for Detroit, registering 18 points and snagging 12 rebounds. The Pistons, now boasting a 36-29 record, secured a decisive lead when Isaiah Stewart scored from inside, giving them a 33-32 advantage early in the second quarter. Cunningham later widened the gap with a layup, extending Detroit’s lead to 92-74 with over three minutes left in the third quarter.
Portland, holding a 28-37 record, was driven by Anfernee Simons, who led his team with 34 points on 14-of-26 shooting, and Jerami Grant, who added 25 points. Despite their best efforts, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe struggled with accuracy, combining for just 8 of 25 from the field and 1 of 11 from three-point range.
The Pistons demonstrated resilience by maintaining their composure, especially during crucial moments when Portland trimmed their lead. Despite nearly squandering an 18-point advantage in the second half, Detroit remained steadfast in the second game of back-to-back encounters, which also concluded a four-game road trip. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers, although managing to sink 15 three-pointers, only shot 30% from beyond the arc and 39% overall.
The game witnessed a pivotal moment when Portland’s Duop Reath concluded a 13-6 run with a three-pointer, giving them temporary control. However, Dennis Schroder responded swiftly with a running floater, regaining the lead for Portland at 113-108 with about two minutes to go.
A key statistic from the game noted the high number of fouls called, totaling 51, resulting in both teams attempting a combined 64 free throws. This averaged to 1.3 free-throw attempts per minute of gameplay.
Looking ahead, the Pistons return to home ground for two games in three days against the Washington Wizards, starting Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers are set to hit the road to face off against the Golden State Warriors on Monday.
