Led by Cade Cunningham’s 52 points, the Detroit Pistons defeated the Washington Wizards 144-140 in a double-overtime thriller on Thursday. Cunningham became the first player in NBA history to record 50 points and 10 assists without a single turnover, overcoming a resilient Washington squad that forced extra periods twice in the final seconds.
Cunningham Makes History in Double Overtime
Cunningham delivered a historic performance on Thursday, securing 52 points and anchoring Detroit’s 144-140 victory over Washington. The visiting Pistons faced a tough challenge as Washington repeatedly forced overtime with clutch baskets in the final moments.
With the score at 119-118 and under two seconds remaining in regulation, Cunningham drew a foul and sank two free throws. Trae Young answered immediately for the hosts, draining a three-pointer at the buzzer to force the first extra period.
Washington pushed the game to a second overtime after AJ Dybantsa connected on a pull-up jumper following a stop. Cunningham responded with a fadeaway jumper to establish a four-lead with 25 seconds left, sealing the game as the Wizards failed to tie for a third time.
Detroit improved to an 8-3 record following the win, placing them third in the Eastern Conference standings. Washington dropped to 4-9, sitting in 12th place in the East.
Thompson Records Triple-Double as Wizards Slide
Ausar Thompson contributed heavily to the Detroit win by recording a triple-double consisting of 17 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds. Despite Thompson’s performance and three Washington starters scoring over 30 points—including Young, Anthony Davis, and Alex Sarr—the team suffered its sixth defeat.
The matchup featured 20 lead changes as the Pistons overcame a slow start to build a double-digit lead early in the second half.
Washington slowly chipped away at the deficit before the late-game heroics forced the prolonged battle.
The two teams previously met on Monday, when the Pistons secured a 122-111 victory in Detroit. The Wizards entered Thursday’s contest following a 114-101 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.
Sixers Overcome Early Deficit Without LeBron James
In Thursday’s other action, Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points to guide the Philadelphia 76ers past the Toronto Raptors 123-112. Philadelphia overcame an early 17-point deficit and played without LeBron James, who sat out due to a lower back issue.
Joel Embiid contributed 20 points after briefly heading to the locker room in the first quarter with knee discomfort. The 76ers relied on 39 points from their bench, led by Anfernee Simons with 17 points, to secure their fifth comeback win from a double-digit deficit this season.
“Nós aceitamos o desafio. Foi uma vitória de profissionais, sem dúvida. Nos mantivemos no jogo. Não começamos bem, mas foi um bom triunfo”, Maxey told O GLOBO.
Maxey also discussed his chemistry with Embiid, noting their years of playing together.
“Jogamos juntos nos últimos sete anos, então sei mais ou menos onde ele vai estar, e ele sabe onde eu vou estar; isso é bom para nós”, Maxey added, referencing his partnership with the 2023 NBA MVP.
Philadelphia holds a 10-3 record, placing them second in the Eastern Conference, just half a game behind the Boston Celtics.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Matchups
How many turnovers did Cade Cunningham commit against the Wizards?
Cunningham finished the game with zero turnovers, making him the first player in NBA history to record 50 points and 10 assists without losing possession once.
What was the final score of the Pistons and Wizards game?
The Detroit Pistons defeated the Washington Wizards 144-140 after two periods of extra time.