Pistons Survive Late-Game Scare to Escape Portland with a Win 110-102

For a moment Monday night, it looked like the Detroit Pistons were about to offer up a masterclass on how to give a game away. They had walked into the Moda Center, built a commanding 21-point lead, and looked every bit like the Eastern Conference leaders their 23-6 record suggests they are.

Then, the wheels started to wobble. The cushion evaporated. The crowd in Portland woke up. And suddenly, a blowout turned into a street fight.

But unlike the Pistons teams of recent years past—squads that might have folded under the pressure of a collapsing lead—this group found its footing when it mattered most. Despite losing their floor general to fouls and surrendering the lead late in the fourth, Detroit closed on a furious 11-2 run to secure a 110-102 victory over the Trail Blazers. It wasn’t pretty, but road wins in the NBA rarely are.

A Test of Character Without Cunningham

The defining moment of the game came with 8:32 remaining in the fourth quarter. Cade Cunningham, the engine of the Pistons’ offense, was whistled for his sixth foul. He headed to the bench with 14 points, leaving his team clinging to a shrinking nine-point lead in a hostile environment.

Usually, this is where the panic sets in.

Without Cunningham to settle the offense, the Pistons initially faltered. The Blazers, smelling blood in the water, went on a 12-2 tear over the next four minutes, eventually seizing a one-point lead. The momentum had shifted entirely. But rather than crumbling, Detroit’s supporting cast stepped into the spotlight.

The final four minutes were a clinic in defensive intensity and execution. The Pistons clamped down, forcing tough shots and securing vital rebounds to silence the Portland crowd and escape with the win.

Duren and Thompson dominate the paint

While Cunningham’s early exit was the headline scare, the story of the night was Detroit’s dominance in the frontcourt. Jalen Duren was simply a force of nature. He finished with a team-high 26 points and ripped down 10 rebounds, providing a safety valve for the offense whenever plays broke down. Duren’s ability to control the interior kept the Pistons afloat when their jumpers stopped falling.

He wasn’t alone. Ausar Thompson turned in one of his best performances of the season, tallying 18 points and 12 boards. Thompson’s relentless energy was infectious; he seemed to be everywhere at once, keeping possessions alive and disrupting Portland’s passing lanes.

Together, Duren and Thompson ensured that even on a night where the backcourt faced adversity, the Pistons controlled the physical battle.

Portland’s Resilient but Messy Effort

You have to give credit to the Trail Blazers. Down 21 in the third quarter against the best team in the East, they could have easily packed it in. Instead, they clawed their way back behind Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija.

Sharpe led Portland with 25 points, showcasing his explosive scoring ability, but his night was a mixed bag. The Pistons’ defense harassed him into eight turnovers, mistakes that proved costly down the stretch. Avdija added a versatile 18 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, while sophomore big man Donovan Clingan battled Duren in the paint for 17 points and 10 boards.

The Blazers (12-17) showed plenty of heart, but their inability to take care of the basketball ultimately doomed their comeback bid.

What This Means for the Pistons

This win says more about the Pistons than a 30-point blowout would have. It proved that they can weather the storm. It proved they can win when their best player is stuck on the bench in crunch time. And it proved that their 23-6 start isn’t a fluke—it’s the result of a roster that has learned how to close.

Detroit has now won two straight and continues to hold the top spot in the East. There is no rest for the weary, however. The Pistons immediately head to California to face the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, a quick turnaround that will test their legs after a physical battle in Portland.

But for tonight, they can breathe a sigh of relief. They bent, they nearly broke, but they walked out of the arena with the “W.”