The Detroit Pistons escaped with a narrow three-point win after going to overtime against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night
Friday night’s Central Division showdown between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers turned out to be an instant classic overtime victory for the Motown crowd to celebrate, 122-119.
In fact, the Pistons’ narrow three-point OT victory over the Cavs had all the elements of a cinematic thriller from beginning to end. At first, Cleveland center Jarrett Allen began punishing Detroit in the paint to give the Cavs an early lead, but the Pistons kept fighting back.
During the third quarter, an incessant buzzer inside the Little Caesars Arena malfunctioned and continued to sound for over 12 minutes, which provided a bit of comedic relief from the on-court drama. Later on, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham fouled out in the fourth quarter to serve as the fallen protagonist in this basketball flick.
After that, the ascending Daniss Jenkins played the role of a hero by drilling three high-pressure, clutch free throws with four seconds left to force the game into overtime. From that point on, Jenkins and Jalen Duren kept their foot on the gas pedal to give the Pistons a quick six-point edge in the extra frame. Eventually, the ever-reliable Tobias Harris hit a turnaround mid-range jumper as the dagger in Detroit’s 122-119 win.
"He's been mature," Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game about Jenkins."I hate to say that, but it's not surprising anymore what he's done. When his number has been called, whatever the moment has been, he's showed up and he's been productive for us and effective for us."
Despite checking out of the game early due to foul trouble, Cunningham was a driving force that kept the Pistons in the contest all game long. Cunningham finished the night with 25 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals, but the All-Star starter assuredly would have played an even larger role had he avoided foul trouble a bit better against the Cavs.
As for Duren, the Pistons center dominated the paint against one of the premier defensive big men in the league in Evan Mobley, going off for 33 points and 16 rebounds to continue his path of destruction after the All-Star Break. JD stepped up, particularly in overtime, and helped lead the Pistons to one of their most hard-fought wins of the 2025-26 campaign.
"I think it's that moment where you figure it out," Bickerstaff said of Duren. "And all the things just come together, and they're coming together for him. The game's slowed down for him. His understanding the spacing and when to attack, like all of those things have slowed down and given him opportunities."
Although the Pistons were able to escape Friday’s Central Division tilt with a victory, Detroit continues to anxiously await Isaiah Stewart’s return from suspension. Working predominantly against Duren and Harris, the Cavs’ big man combo of Allen and Mobley put up 48 points as a pair down low, which is more than the Pistons would have liked to concede to an offense missing both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Stewart’s presence would have likely altered that production from Cleveland, but Detroit was able to weather that interior scoring to finish the game with a 12-point advantage for points in the paint.
With tonight’s win in the books, the Pistons improve to 44-14 on the season and continue to hold the NBA’s top record according to winning percentage. Simultaneously, the Pistons also opened up an 8.5 game lead over the Cavs in the Central Division.
Next up, the Pistons will take on the Orlando Magic on the road at 6 pm on Sunday, March 1.
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