The Detroit Pistons struggled at the line. For most of the night, their 3-pointers weren’t falling.
It didn’t matter, because they locked the Utah Jazz down defensively. It led to a 114-103 home win – the Pistons’ fourth in a row – on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Cade Cunningham led the way with 31 points and 10 assists, and Jalen Duren had a monster double-double – 22 points and 22 rebounds. Ausar Thompson scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Isaiah Stewart added 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks.
The Pistons (6-2) held the Jazz to 38.4% shooting, helping them overcome a 5-for-20 start from beyond the arc and a 13-for-22 (59.1%) performance at the free throw line. The Pistons recovered on 3-point shooting in the final period, making six of 10 to finish the night 36.7% from 3. Former Piston Svi Mykhailiuk led Utah (3-5) with 28 points.
Tobias Harris (right ankle sprain) missed his second-straight game, and Isaiah Stewart replaced him in the starting lineup again.
The Pistons will look to make it five in a row on Friday (7:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit) when they visit Brooklyn to take on the Nets and begin NBA Cup play.
Jalen Duren seizing bigger offensive role
The fourth-year center appears in the midst of a breakout. He has scored at least 20 points in three of his past four games; Wednesday was his third game this season with at least 18 rebounds.
His lob chemistry with Cunningham has been strong, but he has owned the paint in a variety of ways. He was responsible for the Pistons’ final 12 points of the first half Wednesday in the midst of a 19-9 run — including putbacks, alley-oops and a short jumper after creating space with his dribble.
Duren’s 17.9 points per game entering the game against the Jazz was a career high – by a wide margin, with the previous high 13.8 points in his second season. Opposing teams haven’t been able to keep him away from the rim, and he has rounded out his game with improved touch there and at the line, where he’s shooting 83%.
Cade Cunningham takes over fourth quarter, again
By his standards, Cunningham had a quiet start to the game. But he took over in the final period, scoring 19 points to end any hopes of a Jazz comeback.
“M-V-P” chants echoed through Little Caesars Arena as he picked apart Utah’s defense. At one point, he had scored 10 straight points by himself — two 3-pointers, a midrange jumper and a tough up-and-under-scoop. The second 3 extended the Pistons’ lead to 10, 104-94, with 3:35 remaining.
It was Cunningham’s second straight 30-point performance, followig a 33-point game in Memphis on Monday.
Isaiah Stewart continues block party
Wednesday marked Stewart’s third time in eight games with at least three blocks. His activity at the rim, along with Duren’s relentless paint presence, spurred the Pistons to a 19-9 run to close the first half. It wasn’t just the blocks, though. He overwhelmed Lauri Markkanen and effectively prowled the perimeter when switched onto guards.
He had two swats in the final 70 seconds of the first half — one on Markkanen, the other on Keyonte George — and set the defensive tone in the second half. The Pistons proceeded to hold the Jazz to 18.2% shooting (4-for-22) in the third quarter, extending their run to 35-15 to take control of the game.
Stewart entered the game with 16 blocks, or 2.3 per game — nearly a full block more than his career-high average of 1.4 last season.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X @omarisankofa.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons surge late for fourth straight win, 114-103, over Jazz
