NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 24 points and eight assists, leading the Detroit Pistons to a dominant 127-81 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, March 17, 2025. This decisive win marked the Pistons' recovery after dropping four of their last six games, showcasing their capability to overwhelm opponents with both offensive and defensive prowess.
Simone Fontecchio, stepping up from his previous season struggles, contributed significantly, scoring 23 points on 9-of-10 shooting, including five 3-pointers. His stellar performance was pivotal, especially as Detroit looked for more offensive production from their players. Cunningham’s early contributions helped the Pistons build a considerable lead—63-32 at halftime—fueling their momentum throughout the game.
On the other side, the Pelicans faced yet another challenging night, marking their seventh loss in eight games. Zion Williamson led his team with 30 points, but his scoring alone could not shift the tides. Yves Missi added 12 points along with 10 rebounds and two blocks, but the Pelicans' overall performance was hindered by poor shooting. New Orleans struggled with their field goal attempts, shooting just 32.6% from the floor and managing only five successful 3-pointers out of 32 attempts.
The Pistons’ defense was stifling, holding New Orleans to just 10 made field goals during the first half, tying the NBA's low record for the season. Detroit not only capitalized on their defensive efforts but also demonstrated significant rebounding strength, finishing with 50 rebounds compared to the Pelicans' 39. They also dominated the fast break, scoring 20 points off of the Pelicans' turnovers, recording 10 steals and seven blocks during the game.
One key moment came during the first half when the Pistons went on a 24-5 run, breaking the game wide open. Dennis Schroder's driving layup at 10:21 left before halftime pushed the lead to 41-14, setting the tone for the remainder of the game. Despite sporadic efforts from the Pelicans to chip away at the Pistons' lead, Detroit maintained control throughout the contest.
Unfortunately for the Pelicans, the night was clouded by injury news, as the team confirmed post-game the diagnosis of Trey Murphy III, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a torn labrum and partial tear of the rotator cuff sustained during the first quarter of the game.
Looking forward, the Pistons will face the Miami Heat next on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Meanwhile, the Pelicans gear up for back-to-back games against the Minnesota Timberwolves, starting the same day. With the current challenges, New Orleans will need to regroup quickly as they try to turn their season around.
