How the New Pistons Conquered the NBA
16 mars 2026
Pistons lose Cade Cunningham in win over Washington
Cade Cunningham left the game against Washington after just five minutes due to back spasms. Jalen Duren shined with 36 points to lead Detroit to a 130-117 victory despite the absence of their star point guard.
Mar 17, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) looks on during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Photo Credit : © Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
The Detroit Pistons experienced a bittersweet evening Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards. While the team won 130-117, they lost their star player Cade Cunningham in the first quarter due to back spasms. The All-Star guard played only five minutes before heading to the locker room for good.
The injury occurred during a defensive play on Tre Johnson. As both players dove for a loose ball, the Washington rookie fell on Cunningham, who got up grimacing. Despite the pain, he continued playing for a few minutes before being substituted with 6 minutes and 40 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Jalen Duren carries Pistons to victory
Without their usual floor general, the Pistons relied on an exceptional performance from Jalen Duren. The center set a new career high with 36 points on 13-of-17 shooting, along with 12 rebounds. This sixth 30-point, 10-rebound performance of the season for Duren allowed Detroit to dominate a Washington defense ranked last in the league.
A CAREER NIGHT FOR JALEN DUREN!
36 PTS (career-high)
12 REBAt 22 years and 119 days old, Duren becomes the 2nd-youngest player in Pistons franchise history to record 35+ PTS, and 10+ REB in a game, trailing only Isiah Thomas (21y, 284d). pic.twitter.com/JSED2aKyfU
— NBA (@NBA) March 18, 2026
“I don’t have enough information yet,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game regarding Cade Cunningham’s status, unable to provide a clear update on his star guard.
In his absence, Daniss Jenkins stepped up to run the offense, finishing with 15 points and 7 assists. Tobias Harris added 12 points and 6 assists, while the Pistons also leaned on strong contributions from the bench in a well-balanced team effort. On the Washington side, Bilal Coulibaly and Alexandre Sarr did not play.
The win pushes Detroit to 49–19, putting the franchise just one victory away from its first 50-win season since 2007–2008. The Pistons also maintain a four-game lead over Boston atop the Eastern Conference, with the two teams set to meet Thursday night in Washington — potentially with Cunningham back in the lineup.
With a background in sports management, Nicolas Flamecourt covers NBA news with a particular passion for the North American league, which he has been following for several years. He also covers the NCAA, including news and scouting of future prospects, and regularly conducts interviews with French players as well as players competing in Europe.
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