Detroit withstood multiple double-digit scorers and prevailed against Sacramento.
Malik Monk emerged as the surprise lead scorer for the Sacramento Kings in dropping 19 points.
But the Detroit Pistons leaned into usual star Cade Cunningham and his 29 points to lead into the 139-116 rout of the visitors on Sunday.
Sacramento started fast alongside Detroit to open up the first quarter -- ending that period tied at 35. Russell Westbrook started the Kings' scoring with a 30-foot pullup jump shot. DeMar DeRozan then hit a running layup to cut the lead to 6-5.
Nique Clifford handed Sacramento its first lead of the night -- nailing an 18-foot jumper to make it 9-8. Westbrook then briefly broke a 10-10 tie by swishing a 25-foot three-pointer. Clifford eventually extended the lead to 24-20 through his 23-foot jumper.
Dennis Schroeder later followed with his running layup. Keon Ellis, overhearing some trade rumblings surrounding his Kings future, made a 3-foot two-pointer that handed the Kings their biggest lead at 31-24. But the Pistons ended the quarter on an 11-4 run -- and the Kings never recovered from there.
Detroit made sure Sacramento never led for the rest of the evening. The Pistons outscored the Kings 43-30 in the second quarter to close out the half. Cunningham scored the final four points of that period and dropped 12 alone in the second.
DeRozan started the third with a running layup. But the Pistons built a 21-point lead by taking advantage of some bad shot selection on the Kings' side. Detroit's lead eventually inflated to 25 inside the Little Caesar's Arena in the Motor City.
Sacramento shot 44% from behind the arc compared to the 52% Detroit hit. The latter also shot 55% from field goal range. Detroit out-rebounded Sacramento 43-33 and snatched more steals with 15 compared to the Kings' seven.
The visitors managed to get seven blocks in on the defensive side -- with Monk even leading there through three swats. Dylan Cardwell was another force on defense; blocking two shots and leading the Kings with nine rebounds.
Monk. again, led the scoring charge off the bench. Ellis scored 14 in re-earning minutes from head coach Doug Christie. Schroeder added 15 points through reserve duty.
DeRozan led the starters by scoring 16. Clifford dropped 15 for Sacramento. Westbrook scored 13 while elevated starter Domantas Sabonis produced 12 points -- as Maxime Raynaud came off the bench this time.
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