Tobias Harris led the Detroit Pistons with a double-double, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, as they edged the Charlotte Hornets 98-94, marking their fifth victory in six outings. Cade Cunningham contributed 18 points, while Jalen Duren added a solid performance with 10 points and 14 rebounds. The Hornets, still searching for a win, saw Miles Bridges score 20 points and Mark Williams contribute 18, but they suffered their ninth consecutive defeat.
The fourth quarter saw the Pistons narrowly outscore the Hornets 14-12, despite shooting just 30% from the field. Charlotte struggled significantly, hitting only 21.1% of their shots during the final period, including a dismal stretch where they missed 11 of their first 12 attempts. Detroit capitalized on Charlotte's mistakes, building a 92-85 lead with just over four minutes left.
Despite a high number of fouls committed by Detroit throughout the game, Charlotte was unable to capitalize, converting only two of their first seven free throw attempts in the quarter. The Pistons faced the challenge of playing without Jaden Ivey, who broke his leg in a previous game, but Malik Beasley stepped up, scoring 12 points in 31 minutes. The Hornets struggled on the boards, securing only nine offensive rebounds compared to Detroit's 14.
The game was pivotal for Detroit, who managed to rally back after trailing at halftime, outscoring Charlotte 32-17 in the third quarter. The Hornets will look to turn their fortunes around on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, while the Pistons will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.
