Cade Cunningham poured in 33 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Detroit Pistons held off Charlotte for a 110-104 victory Monday night, snapping the Hornets’ nine-game winning streak in a chaotic game that featured a prolonged fight, four player ejections and the dismissal of Charlotte’s head coach.
Detroit got 18 points from Duncan Robinson and 15 from Jalen Duren, who was ejected in the third quarter after sparking a brawl. Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 24 points, while LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel each scored 20.
The game turned volatile midway through the third quarter. After being fouled by Moussa Diabate on a drive, Duren went chest-to-chest with Diabate and appeared to exchange head contact before striking Diabate in the face with an open right hand. The altercation escalated quickly and lasted more than 30 seconds.
As Pistons forward Tobias Harris tried to restrain Diabate, Diabate threw a punch toward Duren. Miles Bridges then charged at Duren and swung, prompting Duren to retaliate. Isaiah Stewart left the Detroit bench to confront Bridges, leading to further shoving and punches before officials and teammates intervened.
Diabate, Bridges, Duren and Stewart were all ejected.
The incident further energized an already heated crowd, and the tension carried into the fourth quarter. Charlotte coach Charles Lee was ejected after having to be restrained from going after an official while arguing a no-call following a collision between Grant Williams and Detroit’s Paul Reed.
Despite the turmoil, Charlotte made a late push, cutting the deficit to four with a minute remaining. Miller and Knueppel both missed 3-pointers on the same possession, and Harris answered with a jumper to push Detroit’s lead back to six with 40 seconds left.
Ball’s driving layup trimmed the margin to four with 17 seconds to play, but Cunningham calmly knocked down two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Charlotte guard Coby White, acquired last week in a trade with Chicago, missed his third straight game with a strained calf. White said before the game that he has been dealing with the injury all season but noted it is progressing well.
Up next:
Pistons at Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Hornets at Houston on Thursday.
