J.B. Bickerstaff credits Pistons defense for ninth straight win
J.B. Bickerstaff credits Detroit Pistons defense for ninth straight win and comeback over 76ers, Nov. 14, 2025.
The Detroit Pistons likely will have Jalen Duren back from injury for their next game – and may get Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson back, as well.
Duren (right ankle sprain) has been upgraded to “probable” for their home game against the Indiana Pacers Monday, Nov. 16, after missing their last two. Cunningham (left hip contusion) is questionable after missing two-straight games, and Ausar Thompson (right ankle sprain) also is questionable after missing three.
They will be without Tobias Harris (right ankle sprain), who has missed seven straight games, and Bobi Klintman (left ankle sprain), who was newly added to the report on Sunday. Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser also remain out and have yet to make their season debuts.
Cunningham was listed as questionable on Friday but was ruled out shortly before opening tip. He suffered a hard fall late in the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards on Monday after Cam Whitmore fouled him during a dunk attempt. Against the Wizards, Cunningham made a brief trip to the locker room, then returned and played out the remainder of the quarter and overtime.
He finished with a career-high 46 points (on a franchise-record 45 shot attempts), 12 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals and just two turnovers in 45 minutes to lead the Pistons to a 137-135 OT win.
Duren was also listed as questionable and then ruled out before Friday’s game. Both Duren and Cunningham appeared in all of their first 11 games and are the team’s leading scorers during their 11-2 start, the franchise’s best since the 2005-06 season. Cunningham is averaging 27.5 points, 9.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, while Duren is averaging 19.4 points, 12 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals.
Jaden Ivey is nearing his four-week re-evaluation date following arthroscopic surgery Oct. 16 on his right knee, and has resumed on-court workouts. Marcus Sasser is at least three weeks away from his reevaluation date as he rehabs a left hip impingement.
The Pistons pulled off a second consecutive improbable win without Cunningham, Duren and half of their rotation Friday, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 114-105 to improve to 2-0 in NBA Cup play and extend their winning streak to nine games – their longest since winning 11-straight in 2007-08.
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