Where is Cade Cunningham in the MVP conversation?
Following the Pistons’ big win over the Boston Celtics, Omari and Bryce break down the improvements they’ve seen from the franchise star player.
The Detroit Pistons marched to a commanding victory on Saturday, Dec. 20, to close out the home slate of the 2025 calendar.
They blew out the Charlotte Hornets at Little Caesars Arena, 112-86, to improve to 22-6. Detroit outscored Charlotte, 33-14, in the fourth quarter and dominated them defensively, holding them to 31.5% shooting for the game. Charlotte’s 86 points was the lowest total of any Pistons opponent this season.
“That’s what we try to prioritize,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of their defensive effort. “Obviously [Charlotte] is a really good offensive team. They’ve got weapons all over the floor. They can shoot the three, and they’ve got guys that can beat you off the bounce playing transition. So, 14 [points] in the fourth and 18 [points] in the second shows what we’re capable of. That triggers everything for us, especially nights where shots aren’t falling for us. We got to get those stops to get out in transition and get some easy [baskets].
Cade Cunningham led the way with a triple-double — 22 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists – with two steals. Jalen Duren added a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Tobias Harris (16 points), Duncan Robinson (15 points) and Ausar Thompson (14 points, four blocks) also scored in double figures. Flint native (and Michigan State alumnus) Miles Bridges and rookie Kon Knueppel each had 19 points for Charlotte.
Next up, the Pistons hit the road for a five-game road trip, starting against the Trail Blazers in Portland, Oregon, on Monday (10 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit).
Duncan Robinson returns, heats up in second half
After a knee-to-knee collision with Mavericks wing Naji Marshall during the Pistons’ road loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, Robinson exited the game early in the second half and was later ruled out with a left knee contusion. The Michigan alumnus returned Saturday and was instrumental in helping the Pistons take over during the third quarter.
He knocked down three 3-pointers and completed a 4-point play by the 8:56 mark of the period, extending a 28-7 Pistons run to push their lead to 18, 70-52. Robinson scored 10 of the Pistons’ first 10 points of the half. Later in the fourth quarter, he came up with a steal and fastbreak dunk to extend another Pistons run, 10-2, and increase their lead to 89-77 with just over nine minutes to play in the game.
“There was a little bit [of doubt],” Robinson said about his availability entering Saturday’s win. “I’m feeling alright, though. Thankfully, Thursday was not serious. Obviously I was a little spooked when it happened, but thankfully not too bad. It’s fun to be back out there. If I feel like I can get up and down I always try to be available.”
It was a bounce-back performance for Robinson, who shot 1-for-7 overall and 0-for-5 from 3 in 13 minutes in Dallas.
Pistons clamp down defensively in final period
After an alley-oop from Cunningham to Thompson with 7:25 on the clock in the third quarter gave the Pistons a 20-point lead, they went cold and allowed the Hornets to get back into the game. With Cunningham on the bench, the Hornets closed the period with an 18-5 run, capped with three free throws from Brandon Miller to cut the Pistons’ lead to seven, 79-72.
Charlotte wing Sion James opened the fourth with a 3-pointer, reducing Detroit’s lead to 79-75 before the Pistons pulled away for good. They held the Hornets to 6-for-21 shooting (28.6%) and forced 10 turnovers in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
After the 3-pointer from James, the Pistons went on a 23-2 run to take a 25-point lead with 4:13 to play. They scored 12 points off of those turnovers and led by as many as 29. Cunningham capped the run by catching an alley-oop from Harris.
“Usually it’s our defense just getting stops that really helps us, because it also gets us out in transition,” Robinson said. “That’s when we can be most impactful – [when we] help the line. Good teams are going to make runs, and they made some shots and some plays. But we held the line, which was important.”
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