The Detroit Pistons demolished the New Orleans Pelicans 129-108 on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena. The blowout victory comes amid a terrifying medical crisis for the franchise. Star point guard Cade Cunningham is currently sidelined with a collapsed lung. But Detroit hasn’t blinked. The staggering win pushes their record to an Eastern Conference-best 52-19.
They are running away with the top seed. Thursday’s dominant showing further cemented Detroit’s multi-game lead over the Boston Celtics. The 2025-2026 regular season is rapidly winding down. The pressure is mounting. Detroit looks entirely unfazed.
The Pelicans had absolutely no answers. New Orleans dropped to a dismal 25-49 on the year. They looked completely outmatched from the opening tip.
The Pistons were also missing starting center Isaiah Stewart. It didn’t matter. The team relied heavily on their remaining young core to dominate the physically demanding sport. They controlled the tempo. They dictated the spacing.
All-Star Jalen Duren anchored the middle of the floor. Second-year guard Daniss Jenkins stepped up to absorb the massive offensive workload vacated by Cunningham. Detroit proved they can win decisively even while severely shorthanded.