Cade and Pistons Hold Off Blazers in the 4th to win 122-116
In a game that felt more like a street fight than a ballet, the Detroit Pistons clawed their way to a 122-116 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was a testament to the grit this Pistons team is building, a win forged in the fire of a chaotic fourth quarter that had the 19,907 fans at Little Caesars Arena holding their breath.
This was a game of wild momentum swings, a heavyweight bout where both teams traded haymakers until the final bell. The Pistons, still smarting from a recent loss to Milwaukee, where they looked lost against a simple zone defense, came out swinging. They built a lead that stretched to as many as 18 points, looking every bit the dominant home team with a sparkling 10-2 record in their own building. It felt like this was their night to cruise.
But Portland refused to play the part of the easy victim. Led by a relentless Deni Avdija, who seemed to score at will, the Trail Blazers weathered the storm. Avdija was a force of nature, pouring in 35 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists in a performance that deserved a better fate.
He was flanked by former Piston Jerami Grant, who added 29 points of his own, and the explosive Shaedon Sharpe, who chipped in 28. Together, they chipped away, turning Detroit’s comfortable cushion into a precarious one-point deficit, 85-84, heading into the final frame. The Pistons’ offense, which had hummed to the tune of 65 first-half points, sputtered to just 19 in the third quarter. The momentum had completely flipped.
Pistons Respond to Adversity
The fourth quarter was pure, unadulterated chaos. The whistles were constant, with a staggering 64 total fouls called and 83 free throws attempted throughout the night. The choppy rhythm could have derailed a lesser team, but it was in this crucible that Detroit’s leader stepped up.
With the game hanging in the balance, Portland ripped off an 11-0 run to take a five-point lead with just a few minutes to play. The arena grew tense. But then, it was Cade Cunningham’s time.
Cunningham Takes Over
Cade Cunningham, the cornerstone of this Pistons franchise, put the team on his back. He scored 13 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter, refusing to let his team lose. The defining moment came with 2:22 left on the clock. Cunningham, reading the play like a seasoned veteran, jumped a passing lane, snatched the steal, and glided down the court for a go-ahead layup that gave the Pistons a 112-110 lead. The roar from the crowd was deafening. It was the spark Detroit desperately needed.
That play ignited a game-sealing 12-2 run. Following Cunningham’s heroics, sharpshooter Duncan Robinson drained five quick points over the next two possessions, stretching the lead to seven and breaking Portland’s spirit. It was a clutch sequence that slammed the door on any hope of a Trail Blazers comeback. Jalen Duren was a beast inside, adding a powerful 18 points and 8 rebounds, providing the physical presence needed to counter Portland’s attack.
What This Win Means for Detroit
This victory was more than just another number in the win column, pushing the Pistons to an impressive 18-5 record. It was a character win. After being embarrassed by a zone defense in their previous outing and letting a huge lead evaporate tonight, they could have folded. They didn’t. They stared down adversity, relied on their leader, and found a way to win a game that was slipping through their fingers.
They atoned for their recent lapse and secured their fourth straight victory over the Trail Blazers, reversing a long-standing trend of Portland dominance in the series. While allowing 22 points off turnovers is a concern they’ll need to address, their ability to generate offense from defense has been a key to their recent 4-3 stretch. Tonight, they proved they could win ugly, a vital skill for any team with championship aspirations. The Pistons now turn their attention to a Saturday night showdown, a chance for redemption against the Milwaukee Bucks.
