NBA: Cade Cunningham, Daniss Jenkins power Pistons past Cavaliers

Cade Cunningham scored 27 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out seven assists, while Daniss Jenkins poured in 21 of his 25 points in the second quarter, helping the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons secure a 114-110 victory over the host Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon.

Donovan Mitchell added 10 points in the fourth quarter to bring Cleveland within 108-106, but Isaiah Stewart forced a turnover in the frontcourt with 36 seconds remaining. Ausar Thompson converted a tip-in at the other end to push Detroit ahead 110-106 with 17 seconds left. Two-way guard Jenkins then sank four free throws in the final six seconds to seal the win for the Pistons, who had previously lost nine straight games in Cleveland and hold a 2-13 record against their Central Division rival in the last 15 matchups.

Jenkins was perfect in the second quarter, going 7-of-7 from the field, 6-of-6 from three-point range, and 1-of-1 from the free-throw line while playing all 12 minutes. His performance helped Detroit score a season-high 47 points and build a 66-56 halftime lead.

The Pistons also converted all 21 of their free throws in the game, with Cunningham accounting for 11 of them. Duncan Robinson added 12 points, and Javonte Green chipped in 11 off the bench as Detroit won for only the second time in its last five games.

For the Cavaliers, Mitchell finished with 30 points, scoring 23 in the second half, while Darius Garland added 16 points and six assists. Cleveland’s three-game winning streak came to an end, leaving the team with a 2-1 record on their homestand.

Sam Merrill and Evan Mobley contributed 15 points each for Cleveland. The Cavaliers trailed 106-93 with just under five minutes left before Mitchell scored seven points in a 59-second span. Garland’s jumper cut the deficit to two points with 1:16 remaining.

Cleveland opened strong, with Merrill hitting three 3-pointers to give the Cavaliers a 28-19 first-quarter lead. However, Jenkins’ second-quarter scoring spree put Detroit ahead for good.

Injuries affected both teams’ lineups. Pistons center Jalen Duren (right ankle sprain), power forward Tobias Harris (left hip sprain), and shooting guard Caris LeVert (left knee inflammation) did not travel to Cleveland and are out indefinitely. Duren, averaging 17.9 points and 10.6 rebounds, will have his status updated in a week, while Harris will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

For the Cavaliers, center Jarrett Allen (illness) and power forward Dean Wade (left knee bruise) were pregame scratches, prompting Merrill to move into the starting lineup.

—Field Level Media/Reuters