March 10, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) looks to drive past Brooklyn Nets guard Drake Powell (4) in the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images The Detroit Pistons and two All-Stars got back on track Tuesday. Now they will look to continue their winning streak when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.
Detroit continued its four-game losing streak, its longest of the season, by defeating the host Brooklyn Nets 138-100. The Pistons avenged a 107-105 home loss to the Nets last week as Detroit squandered a 23-point second-half advantage.
“We did what we had to do,” Pistons manager JB Bickerstaff said. “They stuck to the script. They stayed together. They stayed consistent in our approach. They decided to go out and take care of business.”
In the rematch, the Pistons gave the lottery-winning Nets no hope of a comeback, building a 73-40 halftime lead and scoring 65 second-half points to maintain it.
“It was very important to not play the score and just go out and do the next right thing,” Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham told the Detroit News. “I thought we did a good job of it.”
Cunningham made 10 shots but had 21 points, 15 assists and only two turnovers in 26 minutes. All-Star center Jalen Duren made all but one of his 10 field goal attempts while scoring a team-high 26 points.
“The pressure they put on guys and the decisions they have to make, what other teams are willing to take and take away,” Bickerstaff said. “It has put too much pressure on the team and now they have to send in extra bodies and then everyone gets a chance to eat.”
Their slip allowed Boston to pull within striking distance of securing a top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Pistons currently hold a 3½ game advantage.
Philadelphia is trying to get out of the play-in tournament and secure a top-six seed. Injuries are making that difficult.
The team learned this week that All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey will miss at least three weeks due to a finger injury.
“You can’t replace Tyrese Maxey,” said rookie guard VJ Edgecombe. “He’s one of those guys. … Obviously, all year long. It breaks my heart when he goes down, but now everyone else has to step up. He knows it’s the next guy.”
Center Joel Embiid, the team’s other top offensive threat, has been battling slant strain. The Sixers are also without forward Paul George, who is serving a 25-game league suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug program.
Philadelphia earned a much-needed 139-129 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. The Sixers have lost four of their previous five contests. Edgecombe, who assumed Maxey’s usual role as the primary ball handler, had 21 points, five assists and three steals.
“I think VJ has given us a big boost,” Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said. “He suddenly started getting offensive rebounds and putbacks. His energy in terms of leadership sparked the whole game with the tough plays he was making.”
Detroit won the first two games of the season series with 111-108 and 114-105 wins in November. Cunningham and Duren combined for 47 points in their first meeting. Neither played in the second matchup as the Pistons showed their depth to overcome Maxey’s 31-point outing.
–Field level media
