Cade Cunningham totaled 34 points and 10 assists as the Detroit Pistons surged ahead in the third quarter of an 125-107 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday at New York in an NBA Cup game.
In an East Group B matchup, the Pistons overcame an early 10-point deficit and won their fifth straight game. Detroit earned its fourth double-digit victory of its streak.
Cunningham scored 25 of his points in the second and third quarters, when Detroit outscored Brooklyn 67-45.
Cunningham made 13 of 18 shots, including a pair of transition dunks in the third as the Pistons turned a 60-55 halftime lead into a 94-74 advantage.
After returning with 9:19 remaining in the fourth, he connected with Duncan Robinson for a 3-pointer, found Jalen Duren for an alley-oop and hit two shots in the paint for a 109-88 lead with 6:31 left. Cunningham took a seat for the rest of the night about a minute later.
Duren added 30 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, who controlled the paint by a 80-32 margin and outrebounded Brooklyn 46-30.
Ausar Thompson chipped in 14 and Robinson contributed 10 as Detroit shot 57.6%, including 74.1% in the paint while also losing Isaiah Stewart to a sprained left ankle.
The Nets were unable to follow up their first win with another, and they dropped to 0-5 at home. Brooklyn took its sixth double-digit loss after announcing Cam Thomas would miss three to four weeks with a left hamstring strain.
Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 28 points. Noah Clowney scored 19 points, including 12 in the opening four minutes when the Nets started quickly before eventually fading.
Nic Claxton added 17 for the Nets, who shot 42.5% and surrendered 26 points off 20 turnovers.
Clowney hit four treys as the Nets opened a 19-9 lead in the first four minutes, and Brooklyn settled for a 29-27 edge through the opening quarter. Detroit scored the final nine points of the half and took a 60-55 lead into halftime after Cunningham hit a fadeaway jumper with 29.1 seconds left.
–Field Level Media
