Cunningham leads Detroit's second-half turnaround against Charlotte
Detroit beat Charlotte 97–89 behind Cade Cunningham's 30 points. The Pistons' third quarter turned the game despite Brandon Miller's big night.
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Detroit returned to winning ways by tightening up after the break. The Pistons beat Charlotte 97–89 at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday 28 October, despite 31 points and 12 rebounds from Brandon Miller. Cade Cunningham answered with 30 points, five rebounds and seven assists.
A day after their defeat in New York, the hosts initially had no answer to Miller. The Hornets forward scored 15 points in the second quarter, taking his total to 21 at half-time. Charlotte led 51–44 at that stage, after a first half in which neither side found much offensive rhythm.
Third quarter turns the game
Detroit stepped up a gear as soon as they came out of the locker room. A 16–5 run, fuelled by three-pointers from several players, flipped the momentum. The Pistons' defence increased the pressure on the ball-handlers and forced Charlotte into a string of difficult possessions.
The hosts won the third quarter 32–19 to go into the final twelve minutes leading 76–70. The Hornets still cut the gap to 82–79 with just over seven minutes left. They then missed five straight shots, allowing Detroit to breathe again.
Cunningham stays in control in the fourth
Cunningham scored ten points in the final period and finished with four three-pointers. Paul Reed contributed 16 points, making five of seven shots, including both of his three-point attempts. The bench also found support in Daniss Jenkins, who scored 14 points; Duncan Robinson added 13.
At the other end, Dennis Schröder scored 14 points, but no other Charlotte player reached double figures. Miller made just two of his seven shots in the final quarter, having carried the offence until then. The Hornets' repeated turnovers also weighed on the outcome.
Detroit improve to 4–1, while Charlotte drop to 3–2. The Pistons play in Brooklyn on Friday; the Hornets finish their road trip in Washington the same night.