CLEVELAND — Cade Cunningham poured in 27 points, going a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line, as the Detroit Pistons snapped a grueling nine-game losing streak with a hard-fought 114-110 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The win marked just the second time in 15 tries that the Pistons have toppled the Cavs, providing a much-needed boost for Detroit, which entered the game without two starters but still managed to hold off a late Cleveland rally. Daniss Jenkins was a revelation off the bench, erupting for 25 points, including an astonishing 21 in the second quarter alone, helping the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons build a cushion they would protect in the closing minutes.
Despite trailing by as many as 13 points with under five minutes remaining, the Cavaliers mounted a furious comeback, slicing Detroit's lead to 108-106 on a basket by Darius Garland with 1:16 left on the clock. But Ausar Thompson delivered a crucial tip-in with 17.2 seconds to go, and Jenkins sealed the deal by sinking four free throws in the final 5.7 seconds, ensuring the Pistons' free-throw perfection with all 21 attempts made.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 30 points, 23 of which came after halftime, showcasing his scoring prowess even as the Cavs saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Garland contributed 16 points but struggled mightily from beyond the arc, going 0-for-7 on three-pointers. Evan Mobley and Sam Merrill each added 15 points for Cleveland, which fought valiantly but couldn't overcome Detroit's clutch play down the stretch.
The Pistons' resilience was particularly notable given their recent skid, which had tested the young core's mettle. According to team officials, the absence of key starters only galvanized the group, with Cunningham emphasizing the importance of the road victory in a postgame statement reported by the Associated Press. "We needed this one bad," Cunningham said, highlighting the team's flawless free-throw shooting as a turning point.
Elsewhere in the league on Sunday, the Orlando Magic handed the Indiana Pacers their 12th consecutive loss, a 135-127 thriller that tied a franchise record not seen in 43 years. Desmond Bane led the charge with 31 points, while Paolo Banchero notched a double-double of 28 points and 12 rebounds. Anthony Black chipped in 27 points and 10 assists for Orlando, which improved to 2-0 against Indiana in their last five meetings, including a narrow 112-110 win on December 31 in Indianapolis.
The Pacers, still reeling from their NBA Finals appearance just seven months ago, shot an impressive 55.2% from the field— a stark contrast to their league-worst 43.8% entering the game— but it wasn't enough to halt the skid. Pascal Siakam paced Indiana with 34 points, including a dominant 20 in the third quarter that briefly gave his team a one-point lead with 7:29 remaining. Aaron Nesmith added 25 points and eight assists, and Andrew Nembhard contributed 20 points and 11 assists, but Orlando's hot shooting from deep—15 of 32 three-pointers at 46.9%—proved decisive.
Bane's impact was felt most during a pivotal 17-0 run in the first half that erased a 12-point Pacers lead early on. As the game tightened late, Bane responded to Nembhard's free throws with a layup and an assist to Banchero for a three-pointer, allowing the Magic to pull away. The injury-depleted Pacers, who have lost two of their last three to Orlando, now face the daunting task of breaking a streak that echoes their darkest days from the 1980s.
In New York, the Brooklyn Nets ended a three-game slide with a 127-115 defeat of the Denver Nuggets, sparked by a strong showing from Michael Porter Jr. in his return to face his former team. Porter, traded to Brooklyn in the offseason after six seasons and a 2023 championship with Denver, tallied 27 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. The former No. 14 pick in the 2018 draft is averaging a career-high 25.8 points this season.
Denver welcomed back Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun from extended injuries—Gordon missing 19 games with a strained right hamstring and Braun sidelined for 23 with a sprained left ankle—but it wasn't enough to overcome the Nets. Jamal Murray dazzled with 27 points, a career-high 16 assists, and six rebounds, while Gordon scored 20 off the bench. Braun started and added four points in his return. Still, the Nuggets fell to 1-2 since Nikola Jokic's hyperextended left knee sidelined him for perhaps a month.
Noah Clowney led Brooklyn with 22 points, and Cam Thomas and Day'Ron Sharpe each had 17. Sharpe started at center in place of Nic Claxton, who was out for personal reasons. The win provided a morale lift for the Nets, who have been rebuilding around young talent like Porter, now thriving in his new surroundings.
Up in Washington, the Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Wizards 141-115, completing a season sweep and capping a 3-1 road trip. Anthony Edwards erupted for 35 points, including 16 in the first quarter alone—his most in an opening period this season— as Minnesota built a 38-28 lead after one. Julius Randle added 22 points, and Rudy Gobert secured his 15th double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
The Timberwolves outscored Washington 76-48 in the paint and turned the Wizards' miscues into points, holding a 26-13 edge off turnovers for the game. Minnesota forced just one Wizards turnover in the first half while committing nine themselves? No—Washington had nine turnovers in the half, leading to 12 points for Minnesota en route to a 73-58 halftime advantage. The Wolves never trailed after the first five minutes, marking their third 140-plus-point game of the season.
CJ McCollum led the Wizards with 20 points, but Washington, now 9-25 and owners of the Eastern Conference's second-worst record, saw their four-of-five win streak snapped. The Wizards have allowed 140-plus points four times this season, underscoring defensive woes. Minnesota's back-to-back wins marked the third time this season they've achieved that feat.
Down in Miami, the Heat cruised to a 125-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, extending New Orleans' road misery to 2-13 and their overall losing streak to seven games. Norman Powell stole the show with a career-high nine three-pointers en route to 34 points, shooting 11-of-15 from the field and 9-of-12 from deep. Nikola Jovic added 19 points, Kel'el Ware posted 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Pelle Larsson contributed 16 points and six assists.
The Heat, rebounding from a 10-point home loss to Minnesota that ended a four-game win streak, broke the game open with a 21-2 run early in the third quarter, highlighted by three Powell threes. Bam Adebayo's three-pointer capped the surge, putting Miami up 91-71 with 4:14 left in the period. The Heat dominated fast breaks 31-11 and set a season-high with 19 steals, capitalizing on New Orleans' season-high 24 turnovers.
Trey Murphy III, back from a one-game absence due to back spasms, scored 27 points for the Pelicans, while Jeremiah Fears added 21. Zion Williamson managed 12 points in the first half but was shut out in the final two quarters. The loss deepened New Orleans' struggles, particularly away from home, as they search for consistency amid injuries and turnovers.
Sunday's slate of games underscored the NBA's parity and unpredictability, with streaking teams stumbling and underdogs rising. For Detroit, the victory could ignite a turnaround; for Indiana and New Orleans, the defeats pile on pressure to regroup. As the season progresses toward the All-Star break, these results hint at shifting dynamics in both conferences, with playoff implications looming large.