Cade Cunningham tipped off a 23-point performance with a 10-point first quarter, Jalen Duren recorded his fourth straight double-double and the Detroit Pistons opened a five-game Western swing Tuesday with a 136-127 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Duren accumulated 23 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, while Cunningham had a game-high 14 assists along with seven rebounds and five steals to complete a double-double, vaulting the Pistons to their fourth-biggest point total of the season.
DeMar DeRozan used a 12-for-18 night from the field and 13-for-15 at the free-throw line to put up a game-high 37 points for the Kings, who lost for the sixth time in their last seven games.
Taking the court 24 hours after scoring just 110 points in a win at Portland, the Pistons wasted little time giving the Sacramento scoreboard a workout, scoring 37 points in the first quarter en route to a 13-point lead. Seven Pistons got into the scoring act in the opening 12 minutes, with Isaiah Steward chipping in with seven points and Tobias Harris six to complement Cunningham’s 10.
On a night when they shot 53.7% overall and 43.8% on 3-pointers, the Pistons improved to 38 points in the second quarter and 40 in the third before coasting home.
Duren made 10 of 15 shots in continuing a four-game run during which he is averaging 21.3 points and 11.8 rebounds.
Harris and Duncan Robinson buried three 3-pointers apiece, while Cunningham, Stewart and Jaden Ivey each had a pair for the Pistons, who went 14 of 32 from deep and outscored the Kings 42-33 from beyond the arc.
Harris finished with a team-high 24 points, Ausar Thompson 19 and Stewart 16 for Detroit, which won for the seventh time in their last eight games.
The 37 points were a season high for DeRozan, who also found time for a team-high eight assists.
Russell Westbrook backed DeRozan with 27 points for the Kings, who shot 45.7% from the field. Precious Achiuwa notched the game’s third double-double with 15 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, while Nique Clifford added 14 points and Dennis Schroder 10.
