Jalen Duran insisted the Detroit Pistons’ hunger and desire remained greater than ever after they extended their winning streak to 12 games against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Pistons were led by Cade Cunningham’s 29 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds as Detroit produced a sensational 129-116 victory to improve to 14-2 this season.

It was an excellent game all around for J.B. Bickerstaff’s team, who also welcomed Jaden Ivey and Tobias Harris back into the fold, with the pair making an almost instant impact.

Detroit’s current stretch of triumphs is the third-longest in the franchise’s history, having lost two of their first four games against the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The team record is 13, which has happened twice (in 1989-90 and 2003-04), with the Pistons going on to win the NBA title in each of those seasons.

Detroit’s latest win also highlighted their impressive turnaround over the last few years, after they finished with the worst record in the NBA at 14-68 in 2023-24.

“The biggest thing is we’re still hungry,” Duran said. “Not everybody in here went through that with us.

“But the guys who were here truly understand and still feel we’ve got a lot to prove. It feels good. Like I keep saying, it’s early in the season so we’re nowhere.

“We still got a lot more room to go, and a lot more room to grow.”

twelve DUBS pic.twitter.com/Abv9XXVeGT

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 23, 2025

Ivey played 15 minutes and scored 10 points in his first game since breaking his left fibula at the start of January, but he recovered in time to feature in Detroit’s preseason.

However, after experiencing some discomfort in his right knee in October, Ivey underwent surgery, and he struggled to contain his emotions after returning to the court.

“Just cherished the moment of being back out there tonight,” Ivey said. “Going into it, I was just trying to get my mind wrapped around it just because it’s been so long.

“It took a while for me to get used to it. Get used to warming up and just going through the normal routine again. But it was just so much gratitude to be out there again.”

And his team-mates were also thrilled to welcome him back into the mix in the midst of the Pistons’ hot streak, with the Indiana Pacers up next on Monday.

“It’s like seeing him in his natural state,” Cade Cunningham said. “Having the jersey on, playing, being on the court. It’s like seeing him at home. And he looked good today.

“I thought he looked really comfortable out there. Doesn’t look like he’s missed as much time as he has. So, it is a credit to his work and how much time he’s put into it.”

The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo missed a second game due to an adductor strain, and the Pistons took full advantage to end their recent struggles against Milwaukee. 

Indeed, Detroit snapped their 13-game losing streak to Milwaukee, who had swept the season series between the two teams in each of the past three seasons.

“I think it’s important,” Cunningham said of ending a run of defeats to the Bucks. “I don’t think any franchise should have that over ours. We take playing for the Pistons seriously.

“So, that’s part of representing this, putting the end to things like that and starting new streaks in our favour.”