KEY POINTS
- Detroit secured a 130-77 win, marking the most lopsided victory in the history of the Pistons franchise.
- Jalen Duren celebrated his first All-Star selection with a double-double, recording 21 points and 10 rebounds.
- The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons extended their record to 36-12 while holding the Nets to just 32.9% shooting.
The Detroit Pistons achieved a historic milestone on Sunday night by delivering the most dominant performance in the team’s long history. Hosting the Brooklyn Nets at Little Caesars Arena, Detroit secured a massive 130-77 victory. The 53-point margin surpassed the previous franchise record of 52 points set against Boston in 2003. This result reinforces Detroit’s current position as the top seed in the Eastern Conference standings.
Jalen Duren stood out as the primary force for the home side throughout the contest. Earlier in the evening, league officials named the young center as an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve. He honored the selection by scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in a clinical display. Duren’s presence in the paint helped Detroit outmuscle a struggling Brooklyn frontcourt from the opening tip.
Cade Cunningham also played a vital role in orchestrating the blowout victory. The star guard, recently named an All-Star starter, finished with 18 points and 12 assists. He controlled the pace of the game during the first half, helping Detroit build a 23-point lead. Ausar Thompson added to the momentum by sinking a spectacular half-court shot at the halftime buzzer.
Brooklyn struggled to find any offensive rhythm without their leading scorer, Michael Porter Jr., who missed the trip. The Nets committed 23 turnovers and shot poorly from both the field and the three-point line. Rookie Egor Demin saw his record-breaking streak of 34 games with a made three-pointer come to an end. Cam Thomas and Drake Powell led the visitors with 12 points each in a losing effort.
The third quarter saw the lead balloon as Detroit outscored Brooklyn by 15 points in that period alone. The Pistons eventually led by as many as 55 points before the final whistle blew. This victory marks Detroit’s second consecutive win and their eighth in the last ten outings. They currently hold a significant lead over their rivals in the race for home-court advantage.
Detroit will look to carry this momentum into their next home game against Denver on Tuesday. The team’s depth was on full display as bench players like Daniss Jenkins and Marcus Sasser also reached double digits. For the Nets, the loss continues a difficult stretch that has seen them drop eight of their last nine. They return home to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
