Last updated: Oct. 29, 2026
Cade Cunningham scored 30 points, and the Detroit Pistons turned a seven-point halftime deficit into a 97-89 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena, a day after their first loss of the season.
The result lifted Detroit to 4-1 and answered a lopsided 111-97 defeat at New York on Tuesday, a game that ended the Pistons’ unbeaten start. It was not tidy. The Pistons trailed at halftime, struggled to make shots in the first half and played again without their All-Star center, Jalen Duren. They won with defense, a third-quarter burst and their best player carrying the scoring, which is why the night mattered more than its final margin suggests.
How the Pistons erased a halftime deficit
Charlotte led by double digits early in the second quarter, ClutchPoints reported, and took a 51-44 lead into the break. Neither team shot well in the first half, according to The Associated Press, but the Hornets’ 6-0 edge in second-chance points kept them in front. Daniss Jenkins cut into the margin with a 3-pointer as time expired in the half, the Detroit Free Press noted.
The game turned quickly after halftime. Detroit opened the third quarter with a 16-5 run that included 3-pointers from four players, the AP reported, and its defense forced eight Charlotte turnovers in the period. By the end of the quarter the Pistons led, 76-70.
Charlotte stayed within reach for most of the fourth quarter but never mounted a serious threat. Brandon Miller, who carried the Hornets for much of the night, missed five of his seven shots in the final period, according to the AP, and Charlotte committed five more turnovers. The Hornets finished with 25 turnovers to Detroit’s 14, the clearest single number in the box score.
Pistons vs. Hornets: Key numbers
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final score | Pistons 97, Hornets 89 |
| Halftime | Hornets 51, Pistons 44 |
| After three quarters | Pistons 76, Hornets 70 |
| Turnovers | Hornets 25, Pistons 14 |
| Cade Cunningham | 30 points (10-of-22 FG, 4-of-9 3PT), 7 assists |
| Ausar Thompson | 7 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists |
| Brandon Miller (CHA) | 31 points, 12 rebounds |
| Records | Pistons 4-1, Hornets 3-2 |
Sources: The Associated Press, the Detroit Free Press and ClutchPoints.
Cunningham’s season high and a bench that delivered
Cunningham’s 30 points were a season high, according to the Free Press. He made 10 of 22 shots, including four of nine 3-pointers, and added seven assists against one turnover, ClutchPoints reported. He also played through a knee-to-knee collision with Miller in the third quarter.
The supporting cast filled in around him. With Duren out, Paul Reed scored 16 points and had three steals. Jenkins added 14 points and three assists off the bench, and Duncan Robinson scored 13. Ausar Thompson scored only seven points but nearly had a triple-double, with nine rebounds and eight assists.
For Charlotte, Miller finished with 31 points and 12 rebounds. Dennis Schröder scored 14, and no other Hornet reached double figures, the AP reported. The Hornets were again without their starting backcourt, Coby White and Kon Knueppel, the Free Press said.
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff described it as the kind of game his team wants. The Pistons get their “mojo,” he told reporters, when the game turns “gritty and nasty,” and he praised the players for not giving up on short rest; he said he had not gotten home from New York until 3:30 a.m., ClutchPoints reported. Cunningham said it mattered that the team stayed together after a poor start.
Injury update: Jalen Duren and Isaiah Joe
Duren missed his third straight game with a right hamstring strain he sustained in last Friday’s win at Miami. He remains out for at least another 10 days, according to the Free Press. Guard Isaiah Joe missed his second straight game with a right hip contusion. The team has not announced a return date for either player.
What the win means for Detroit
Five games is a small sample, but the pattern is useful. In the loss at New York, recapped in our Pistons vs. Knicks breakdown, Detroit’s offense stalled for two quarters and never recovered. On Wednesday it went through a similar dry spell and found a way back, largely by forcing turnovers rather than by shooting its way out.
That matters while Duren is out. Without their All-Star center, the Pistons are leaning on Reed, on Thompson’s all-around play and on defensive pressure. Bouncing back the night after a loss, on the second night of a back-to-back, is the kind of result that can steady an early schedule. What remains unknown is how well that formula holds up over the 10-plus days before Duren can return.
What’s next: Pistons at Nets, Friday
Detroit plays at Brooklyn on Friday, Oct. 30, at Barclays Center. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. ET. The game airs locally on The Spot – Detroit 20 and streams on DAZN, with radio on 97.1 The Ticket. Charlotte plays at Washington the same night.
- Fri., Oct. 30: at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. ET, The Spot – Detroit 20 / DAZN
- Mon., Nov. 2: at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. ET, The Spot – Detroit 20 / DAZN
- Wed., Nov. 4: vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Times and channels come from the team’s published broadcast schedule and can change, so confirm on game day. Our Detroit Pistons schedule and TV guide lists every game through December, and the latest Detroit sports scores page has finals for every Detroit team.
Before Pistons at Nets on Friday
- Set the channel: The Spot – Detroit 20 over the air with an antenna, or DAZN if you stream.
- Note the time: tip-off is 7:30 p.m. ET at Barclays Center.
- Away from a screen, listen on 97.1 The Ticket.
- Check the team’s injury report on game day for updates on Duren and Joe.
Pistons vs. Hornets FAQ
Who won the Pistons vs. Hornets game?
The Pistons beat the Hornets, 97-89, on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
How many points did Cade Cunningham score against the Hornets?
Cunningham scored a season-high 30 points on 10-of-22 shooting, with four 3-pointers and seven assists.
Is Jalen Duren playing for the Pistons?
Not yet. Duren has a right hamstring strain and has missed three straight games. The Detroit Free Press reported he is out for at least another 10 days.
When do the Pistons play next?
Detroit plays at the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. ET on The Spot – Detroit 20 and DAZN.
Sources: The Associated Press via ClickOnDetroit; Detroit Free Press (via Yahoo Sports); ClutchPoints; official Pistons schedule.
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