Cade Cunningham scored 19 points to lead six Pistons in double figures as visiting Detroit dominated inside and surged ahead in the second half for a 106-92 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
Tobias Harris added 18 points, including the go-ahead three-point play late in the third quarter. Malik Beasley also contributed 18 as he and Cunningham combined for 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Jaden Ivey added 15 and Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in 14 as the Pistons shot 48.1 percent, including 68.8 percent (22-of-32) in the paint, to earn their second win of the season. Jalen Duren collected 13 points and 17 rebounds as the Pistons controlled the glass by a commanding 47-27 margin.
Cameron Johnson scored 22 of his game-high 26 points in the first half but the Nets were unable to win a third straight game and move above .500. Cam Thomas added 17 and was Brooklyn’s only other double-figure scorer as the Nets shot 45.1 percent, misfired on 22 of 31 3-point tries and shot 61.3 percent (19-of-31) at the foul line.
Trailing 67-58 after a 3 by Dorian Finney-Smith, the Pistons outscored the Nets 25-10 over the final 7:58 of the third and 48-25 over the final 19:58 of the game.
Detroit never trailed after Harris converted a basket and foul shot for a 76-73 lead with 3:08 left, and the Pistons gradually pulled away in the fourth.
An uncontested baseline dunk by Hardaway and an open reverse layup by Cunningham on consecutive possessions staked Detroit to a 94-83 lead with 8:02 left. The Pistons sent many to the exits after Beasley’s corner 3 pushed the lead to 101-87 with 2:50 remaining.
After trailing by 26 through the opening quarter Friday against the New York Knicks, the Pistons held a 29-25 lead after the first quarter against the Nets.
Johnson reached 20 when he scored seven straight Brooklyn points for a 44-37 lead with 6:13 left in the second quarter, and the Nets took a 57-52 advantage by halftime.
–Field Level Media
