INDIANAPOLIS — The Detroit Pistons continued their red-hot start to the season, notching their 13th straight win with a hard-fought 122-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The win ties a franchise record for consecutive wins, matching streaks from their 2003-04 and 1989-90 championship seasons.
Cade Cunningham Delivers in Crunch Time
Cade Cunningham led the way with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists, including a clutch jump hook late in the fourth quarter to help hold off a late Indiana surge. After the Pacers trimmed an 18-point deficit to just two in the final minute, Cunningham and Caris LeVert (19 points) came through at the line, and Bennedict Mathurin missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer with 11 seconds left.
Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey Provide Big Sparks
Jalen Duren recorded another strong performance, tallying 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Jaden Ivey, in just his second game back after a long layoff, dropped 12 points in 11 minutes on 5-of-10 shooting. His third-quarter burst — featuring a tough layup, a fastbreak dunk, and a stepback three — powered a key 12-4 run that helped Detroit regain control after the Pacers closed the gap.
Pistons Stay Hot, Hold Off Pacers’ Late Rally
The Pistons never trailed in the second half, shooting 50% from the field as they maintained composure against a scrappy Pacers team. Indiana cut the lead to two with under a minute to go, but Detroit’s execution in the clutch sealed the win and pushed their record to 15-2 — second-best in the NBA behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder (17-1).
NBA Cup Implications Up Next
The Pistons now turn their attention to the NBA Cup group stage finale, facing the Boston Celtics (9-8) on Wednesday. A win could position Detroit as a top seed heading into the knockout rounds. They’ll wrap up group play by hosting the Orlando Magic on Friday.
Ivey’s Role Expanding in Return
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been gradually reintegrating Ivey, who missed nearly a year of action. In Monday’s win, he was used as both a primary and secondary ball-handler, showing effectiveness with and without Cade Cunningham on the floor. The coaching staff continues to stagger the duo’s minutes, but we saw their first shared court time late in the third quarter — and the results were explosive.
Bickerstaff Sticks with Deep Rotation
Bickerstaff continued to rely on a deep rotation, playing 11 players and leaning on contributions from across the bench. While Paul Reed and rookie Chaz Lanier didn’t see the floor Monday, the team’s rotational flexibility has become a strength during this win streak. Daniss Jenkins, whose minutes have dropped slightly since Ivey’s return, still made a key block that led to a fastbreak dunk in the first quarter.
