No Cade Cunningham, no Jalen Duren, no problem for Detroit Pistons in 124-113 win vs Bulls
Cade Cunningham on Pistons start: ‘We’re where we’re supposed to be’
Cade Cunningham on his dunk, Jalen Duren’s defense and being 8-2 just 2 years after a disastrous season, following win in Philadelphia, Nov. 9, 2025.
They were without Cade Cunningham, who missed his first game of the season with a left hip contusion. And Jalen Duren, who also missed his first game, sitting with a right ankle sprain.
All of Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris, Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart and Marcus Sasser also remained out for the Detroit Pistons. The ones who were left? The Pistons’ “B” team – and even their “C” team – stepped up and delivered a win at Little Caesars Arena.
The Pistons defeated the Chicago Bulls, 124-113, on Wednesday Nov. 12, for their eighth straight victory, improving to an Eastern Conference-best 10-2. They led from start to finish, with a lead that surged to as many as 23 points, while shooting a red-hot 55.6% and forcing 21 Bulls turnovers.
Paul Reed led the effort with 28 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block, and Duncan Robinson lit the Bulls up on 3s, with 23 points on 7-for-10 shooting beyond the arc. Two-way guard Daniss Jenkins added 18 points and 12 assists, and Caris LeVert had 17 points. The Bulls, who were without guard Josh Giddey, were led by second-year forward Matas Buzelis (21 points, 14 rebounds).
Daniss Jenkins looks natural as starting point guard
Two days after a breakout performance against the Washington Wizards, Jenkins was aggressive and on a mission in his first career NBA start. Against the Bulls, he had 16 points, seven assists, a steal and one turnover by halftime, pacing the Pistons’ offense as they built a 16-point lead.
Following a Bulls run in the second half, Jenkins knocked down a midrange jumper with 6:21 remaining in the fourth to extend the lead back to eight, 106-98, and delivered a scoop bounce pass to Reed inside for a layup before Robinson knocked down his sixth 3-pointer in transition to push it to nine, 111-102.
No player has benefited more from the Pistons’ spate of injuries than the two-way guard out of St. John’s. The team entered the season shorthanded at guard with Ivey and Sasser both out, and injuries to Cunningham and Thompson have challenged their depth further. Jenkins looked ready after a promising performance during Las Vegas Summer League and now has back-to-back strong efforts in Pistons wins.
Duncan Robinson, Paul Reed step up
The duo answered the call after the Bulls cut their lead to one, 97-96, with 8:26 left in the fourth. A three-point play by Reed made it a two-possession game and answered Chicago’s 21-2 run, and he then got inside for another layup to extend the lead to six. Robinson, who led the Pistons in the first half with 17 points, followed with two big 3-pointers –the second a bank shot to extend the lead to 12, 118-106, with just over three minutes to play.
Robinson led the offensive charge for the Pistons early, knocking down four 3-pointers in the opening period to help them build a 12-point lead at the end of the first. The sharpshooter(and Michigan alumnus) delivered his best performance in a Pistons uniform.
It was also a special night for Reed, who lived up to his “BBall Paul” nickname by doing a bit of everything. He came alive during the third quarter with nine points, five rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals as the Pistons used a 14-0 run to grab their biggest lead, 92-69, with just under three minutes left in the third quarter.
Reed capped the run with a emphatic three-point play, and a took a moment to dap up fans sitting in the front row before knocking down the free throw.
Pistons’ injury list continues to grow
With Cunningham and Duren out, the Pistons were without their preseason projected starting five (including Ivey, Harris and Thompson). Cunningham and Duren both were injured during Monday’s 137-135 win over the Wizards. Cunningham suffered a hard fall late in the fourth quarter and went to the locker room briefly before returning, and Duren hurt his ankle on the last possession.
It was Harris’ sixth straight absence, Stewart’s third and Thompson’s second in a row. They will have an opportunity to return in Friday’s NBA Cup match, when the Pistons host the Philadelphia 76ers (7:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit).
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