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Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons can tie the franchise’s longest winning streak with a victory on Monday, November 24.
The Detroit Pistons turned in one of the most evenly distributed scoring performances the NBA has seen in years during a decisive 142-115 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. Detroit finished the night with seven players scoring in double figures, while 12 different Pistons reached at least seven points.
According to the Associated Press, that combination has happened only two other times in league history.
Those previous instances came from the 2018–19 Milwaukee Bucks and the 2021–22 San Antonio Spurs, according to the AP. For a Pistons squad still working to establish consistency, the game stood out not simply because of the margin of victory, but because nearly everyone who touched the floor contributed offensively. That was well reflected in the box score.
Balanced Offense Defines Detroit’s Night
Detroit never settled into a one-man offense. Shots came from different spots and different players, often before Atlanta could get set defensively. The ball moved quickly, cutters found open lanes, and the Pistons took what the defense gave them instead of forcing looks.
By the end of the night, seven Detroit players were in double figures, with five more close behind. That kind of distribution made it hard for the Hawks to focus their coverage on any single matchup. When rotations changed, the scoring didn’t whether it was the starters or the bench on the floor, the production stayed steady.
Detroit also avoided the stalled possessions that can creep in late. Rather than slowing the game down and isolating, the Pistons kept the same approach throughout, continuing to move the ball and play through multiple options. It helped them stretch the lead without giving Atlanta an opening to swing the momentum back.
Historic Company for Pistons’ Performance
The 2018–19 Bucks pulled it off during a season in which they finished with the NBA’s best record. The 2021–22 Spurs did it as part of a rotation-heavy approach that spread minutes and shots across the roster. In both cases, the scoring came from everywhere, not just one or two players.
That’s what makes Detroit’s night stand out. Getting 12 players to at least seven points doesn’t happen by accident. It requires the game to stay competitive, the ball to keep moving, and players to stay engaged even when they aren’t featured possessions at a time.
For the Pistons, it was a reminder that offense doesn’t always need a centerpiece. While most games revolve around who scores the most, this one turned on how many players stayed involved. Atlanta never found a place to load up defensively, and the points kept coming from different spots.
The record itself may be a footnote over time, but it was enough to put the Pistons alongside two very different teams in NBA history.
Detroit’s balanced performance fits a larger trend in its 2025 season. The Pistons sit at 20–5, holding first place in the Eastern Conference and a 2.5-game lead over the New York Knicks, using depth and consistency to separate themselves early in the standings. That formula has translated into wins against both contenders and rebuilding teams alike.
Alex Shoemaker Alex Shoemaker is a seasoned sports journalist and digital content strategist with more than a decade of experience in newsrooms and digital media. He has covered a wide range of sports, including March Madness, the Olympic Trials, and local high school athletics. He began his journalism career covering high school and community sports, developing a reputation for sharp storytelling and precise design that earned awards for both writing and pagination. More about Alex Shoemaker
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