JCBrooklyn Nets forward Micheal Porter Jr (17) attempts to push past Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Detroit Pistons bounced back in emphatic fashion Tuesday night, crushing the Brooklyn Nets 138–100 in a statement victory in New York.
After dropping four straight games, Detroit responded with one of its most complete performances of the season, controlling the game from the opening tip and never trailing.
Jalen Duren led the way with 26 points, finishing an efficient 9-of-10 from the field and dominating the paint throughout the night. Cade Cunningham orchestrated the offense with precision, recording 21 points and 15 assists while shooting 8-of-10 overall and 4-of-5 from three-point range.
Detroit established control early. Cunningham and Duren combined for 21 points in the first quarter, helping the Pistons build a 38–27 lead after one. The second quarter turned the game into a rout, as Detroit outscored Brooklyn 35–13 to take a commanding 73–40 halftime advantage.
The Pistons’ offense remained sharp throughout the night, finishing the game shooting 56% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc (16-of-32).
Duncan Robinson added 15 points, while Marcus Sasser chipped in 14 for Detroit, which continues to sit atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Brooklyn was led by Michael Porter Jr., who scored 19 points, and Jalen Wilson, who added 14. The loss snapped the Nets’ two-game winning streak.
The win also served as redemption for Detroit after a stunning loss to Brooklyn just three days earlier, when the Pistons squandered a 23-point lead in the second half. This time, Detroit left no room for a comeback, maintaining control from start to finish.
The Pistons will look to build on the momentum when they return home to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Brooklyn will travel to take on the Atlanta Hawks the same night.
