The Detroit Pistons had no reason to be in this game. On a second night of a back-to-back down six rotation players, and Cade Cunningham ailing and with zero legs. When they went down double digits to the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter, you wouldn’t have blamed them for sitting their stars and resting up for the next game.
But that’s not the Pistons way. They are dogs, and they never stop fighting. When the Pistons needed points late it was the combination of their superstar Cunningam and two-way player Daniss Jenkins who delivered. A last-second corner three from Jenkins tied the game — on a sideline inbounds from Cade, natch. It was Jenkins’ 16th points of the fourth quarter and part of his career-high 24 points on the night in 33 minutes off the bench.
It was Detroit’s sixth fourth-quarter comeback of the season after trailing by double digits.
Jenkins was that second scorer the Pistons were desperate for, with Ausar Thompson and Caris LeVert joining Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, and Marcus Sasser out of action against the Wizards.
Cunningham gave the Pistons everything he had, and it was on a night he didn’t really have it going. He didn’t have any legs, and he was snakebitten at the rim. Cade had 46 points on the night, but he needed a mind-boggling 45 shots to make it happen. Cunningham had a triple-double on the night, and some dead legs and a sore tailbone thanks to hard Cam Whitmore foul for good measure.
On the Wizards side, veteran CJ McCollum gave the team everything he had in his attempt to stop Washington’s eight-game losing streak. He scored 42 points on a much more acceptable 25 shots. Alex Sarr also had a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double.
Jalen Duren had his own double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds, but with so many offensive weapons out for Detroit, everyone had a hard time finding space to work, including Cade and Duren.
That messy offensive setting means the Pistons had to scratch and claw its way onto the scoreboard. They did just that. JaVonte Green had 11 points and 11 boards, including the game-sealing putback slam in overtime to give the Pistons a three-point cushion they needed to force the Wizards to play for a tie. Chaz Lanier played limited minutes but was able to can a couple important threes, and Paul Reed played with energy and solid defensive hedges to help protect Duncan Robinson from being hunted on defense.
They needed everything. Every crazy Cade shot, every unfortunate miss, every steal (16) and every second-chance point — they had 25 and a 10 point advantage over Washington. In a game this close, you can point to any one thing and say it was the deciding factor of the game.
It is, and it was, and it all led to a Pistons victory. Their seventh in a row. Now they get a rest day. Hopefully, Cade can rest his back and his legs and be 100% for Wednesday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls. Hopefully, some of his injured teammates are able to join him on the floor.
