Jalen Duren powered Detroit with 29 points and 15 rebounds, and Cade Cunningham added 29 points and 13 assists as the Pistons beat the short-handed Thunder on Wednesday night in a matchup of conference leaders.
Detroit, which leads the Eastern Conference, won its sixth game in seven tries to improve to 43-14. Duncan Robinson chipped in 16 points, and the Pistons made key plays down the stretch to seal it.
Oklahoma City, the defending champion and Western Conference leader, was without five of its six leading scorers to start the game — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen), Isaiah Hartenstein (calf), Chet Holmgren (back), Ajay Mitchell (abdomen) and Jalen Williams (hamstring). Isaiah Joe, the only regular starter available, left at halftime with a bruised hip.
Jaylin Williams delivered a career-high 30 points for the Thunder, and Cason Wallace added 23. Oklahoma City had won five of six entering the night but fell to 45-15.
The Thunder trimmed the deficit to 108-105 with 5:06 remaining before Javonte Green drilled a 3-pointer following four Detroit offensive rebounds on one possession, swinging the momentum for good.
Up next: The Thunder host Denver on Friday night. The Pistons host Cleveland on Friday night.
