NBA: Pistons open homestand with win over Nets

Jaden Ivey had 34 points and the host Detroit Pistons topped the Brooklyn Nets, 118-112, on Thursday night.

Cade Cunningham supplied 32 points and 11 assists in the opener of a six-game homestand for the Pistons, who had lost nine of their previous 10 games.

Ausar Thompson had 14 points and seven rebounds, while Jalen Duren added 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Dennis Schroder led the Nets with 31 points and eight assists. Lonnie Walker IV had 21 points, while Nic Claxton contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds. Mikal Bridges and Dorian Finney-Smith added 13 points apiece.

Brooklyn forward Cam Johnson missed the contest due to an ankle injury. The team announced on Thursday morning Ben Simmons would miss the rest of the season due to a lingering back issue.

The Pistons scored the game’s first 11 points. A 9-0 spurt later in the quarter gave Detroit a 26-8 advantage. Cunningham had the first five points of that run.

The Nets finished the quarter with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 10 points.

Detroit’s lead was still 11, 40-29, after Cunningham knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers.

Brooklyn then went on a 23-9 run, which included five 3-pointers, to take the lead. The Nets led 57-54 at halftime. Walker and Schroder combined for 25 points in the first half.

The Nets nudged the advantage to six early in the second half. A Thompson 3-pointer tied the score at 64-all.

Brooklyn took a 75-71 lead but the Pistons answered with a 12-0 run. The Nets pulled within four, 85-81, entering the fourth.

Ivey’s 3-pointer with 10:50 left gave Detroit a 91-84 lead. He hit another for a 96-88 lead. A 10-2 Brooklyn spurt, which included two Schroder baskets, tied the score again.

Detroit then reeled off nine straight points with Cunningham scoring six, including a driving dunk. He then fed Ivey for a 3-pointer.

Cunningham scored seven points in the final 2:18. Ivey added two free throws with 16.8 seconds remaining to close out the game. — Field Level Media/Reuters