The Detroit Pistons delivered a heart-stopping performance Monday night, rallying from behind to edge out the Washington Wizards 137-135 in an overtime showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats. The star of the night? None other than Cade Cunningham, who put on a historic display that will be talked about for weeks to come.
Cunningham's Monster Night: 46 Points, Triple-Double, and NBA Season Record
Cade Cunningham was simply unstoppable. The Pistons’ franchise cornerstone poured in
46 points, grabbed
12 rebounds, dished out
11 assists, and swiped
five steals—all while taking a jaw-dropping 45 shots, the most by any NBA player this season. Despite shooting just 14-for-45 from the field and 2-for-11 from deep, Cunningham’s relentless aggression and ability to get to the free-throw line (16-for-18) kept Detroit in the fight all night.
This performance marked Cunningham’s 12th career triple-double and helped the Pistons secure their
seventh straight victory, pushing their record to 9-2 and keeping them atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Wizards Collapse Late Despite McCollum's Heroics
On the other side, the Wizards looked poised to snap their losing streak behind a season-high
42 points from CJ McCollum. Washington led by nine with just over four minutes left in regulation after a McCollum three-pointer, but the Pistons refused to go quietly.
Daniss Jenkins, who finished with a season-high 24 points, hit a clutch three-pointer off a Cunningham inbound to tie the game at 127 and force overtime. In the extra period, Duncan Robinson’s three-pointer with just over a minute left gave Detroit the lead for good.
The Wizards, now 1-10 and mired in a nine-game skid, saw strong efforts from Cam Whitmore (20 points) and Alex Sarr (15 points, 15 rebounds), but it wasn’t enough to overcome Detroit’s late surge.
Key Moments and Turning Points
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Jenkins’ Game-Tying Three: With the Wizards clinging to a lead in the final seconds of regulation, Jenkins’ corner three sent the game to overtime and shifted the momentum squarely in Detroit’s favor.
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Cunningham’s Relentless Attack: Despite a cold shooting night from deep, Cunningham’s ability to draw fouls and create for teammates proved decisive.
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Duren’s Double-Double: Jalen Duren chipped in 19 points and 14 rebounds, providing crucial interior presence for Detroit.
What’s Next for Both Teams
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Pistons: Riding high on a seven-game win streak, Detroit will look to keep the momentum going as they host the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
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Wizards: Washington’s search for answers continues as they travel to face the Houston Rockets, hoping to snap their losing streak and find some stability.
Takeaways and Future Implications
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Cunningham’s MVP Case: Performances like this will only strengthen Cunningham’s case as one of the league’s brightest young stars and a legitimate MVP candidate if Detroit’s winning ways continue.
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Wizards in Crisis: With another close loss, the Wizards’ season is quickly slipping away. The pressure is mounting for changes, whether in the rotation or at the coaching level.
This game was a showcase of grit, resilience, and star power—exactly what NBA fans crave. If you missed it, catch the highlights and see why this overtime battle is already being called one of the season’s best.
Sources
1. Washington Wizards vs. Detroit Pistons Live Score and Stats
2. 2021-22 Wizards player evaluations: Kristaps Porzingis
3. Dannis Jenkins unpacks OT buzzer-beater, Detroit Pistons' grit vs ...
4. Detroit Pistons vs Washington Wizards Full Game Highlights
5. OVERTIME BATTLE Pistons and Wizards goes down to the wire
