Cade Cunningham scored a career-high 46 points as part of a triple-double as the host Detroit Pistons rallied from a double-digit deficit in the final five minutes of regulation to pull out a 137-135 overtime win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.
Cunningham attempted 45 field goals and made 14. He was 16-of-18 from the free throw line and also had 12 rebounds, 11 assists and five steals in the Pistons’ seventh straight victory.
Daniss Jenkins’ last-second 3-pointer sent the game into overtime. Jenkins had 24 points and eight rebounds. Jalen Duren supplied 19 points and 14 rebounds, Duncan Robinson added 13 points and Javonte Green had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
CJ McCollum poured in 42 points to lead Washington, which has dropped nine straight. Cam Whitmore had 20 points, and Alex Sarr contributed 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Whitmore’s three-point play with 2:12 left in overtime gave Washington a 132-129 lead. Robinson’s 3-pointer with 1:04 remaining off a Cunningham pass gave Detroit a 134-133 lead. Green’s dunk off a Duren offensive rebound and pass handed the Pistons a three-point lead with 25 seconds remaining.
Washington’s Kyshawn George answered with a layup. Duren then split free throws, and McCollum missed a 3-point try. Detroit’s Paul Reed missed two free throws but McCollum’s last-second shot bounced off the rim.
The Pistons finished the first half on a 16-9 run to grab a 67-61 halftime advantage. The Wizards finished the third quarter with a 9-2 run to take a 96-87 lead.
Corey Kispert’s layup with 11 minutes left pushed Washington’s lead to 12 at 101-89. McCollum’s layup with 8:38 left made it 107-94.
The Wizards still held a 10-point lead with five minutes left.
Cunningham’s 3-pointer with 2:13 remaining cut the Wizards’ lead to 120-115. Javonte Green free throws moved Detroit within three points.
McCollum and George each knocked down two free throws to give Washington some breathing room. Cunningham scored the next four points but McCollum’s jumper with 14 seconds left made it a five-point spread. Jenkins hit a 3-pointer and George split free throws, giving Detroit one last chance.
Cunningham then set up Jenkins’ corner 3 out of a timeout, sending the game into overtime.
–Field Level Media
