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 earn a 137-135 overtime victory 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 provided 19 points and 14 rebounds, Duncan Robinson added 13 points and Javonte Green had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
CJ McCollum scored 42 points to lead Washington, which has lost nine in a row. 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 left on a pass from Cunningham gave Detroit a 134-133 lead. Green’s dunk off an offensive rebound and pass from Duren gave the Pistons a three-point lead with 25 seconds remaining.
Washington’s Kyshawn George responded 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 take a 67-61 halftime advantage. The Wizards finished the third quarter on a 9-2 run to take a 96-87 lead.
Corey Kispert’s layup with 11 minutes left increased Washington’s lead to 12 at 101-89. McCollum’s layup with 8:38 left made the score 107-94.
The Wizards still held a 10-point lead with five minutes remaining.
Cunningham’s 3-pointer with 2:13 left cut the Wizards’ lead to 120-115. Javonte Green’s free throws brought Detroit within three points.
McCollum and George each made 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 five points. Jenkins made a 3-pointer and George split free throws, giving Detroit one last chance.
Cunningham then set up Jenkins’ corner 3 after a timeout, sending the game into overtime.
–Field level media
