DETROIT, MI | October 28, 2026
The Detroit Pistons improved to 4–1 Wednesday night with a 97–89 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at Little Caesars Arena.
Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 30 points, five rebounds, seven assists and two steals, shooting 10-of-22 from the field and connecting on four three-pointers.
Charlotte fell to 3–2 despite an impressive 31-point, 12-rebound performance from Brandon Miller.
Cunningham Takes Control
The Pistons didn't start particularly well.
Charlotte carried a 51–44 advantage into halftime, with Miller scoring 21 points in the opening two quarters.
But Detroit responded after halftime.
The Pistons outscored Charlotte 32–19 in the third quarter, turning a seven-point deficit into a six-point advantage heading into the fourth.
Cunningham controlled the offense, attacking Charlotte's defense and connecting from beyond the arc.
Detroit extended its advantage to 10 points early in the fourth quarter and maintained control down the stretch.
Detroit's Defense Changes the Game
The Pistons didn't dominate the rebounding battle. In fact, Charlotte held a significant 45–33 advantage on the glass.
The difference was ball security and defensive pressure.
Detroit recorded 13 steals compared with Charlotte's seven, while forcing the Hornets into 23 turnovers.
The Pistons committed just 13.
Detroit also produced 26 assists compared with Charlotte's 17, demonstrating better offensive organization despite shooting only 45% from the field.
Paul Reed contributed 16 points and three steals, Duncan Robinson added 13 points and four steals, and Ausar Thompson finished with seven points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Detroit's defense helped compensate for an otherwise ordinary offensive performance.
Brandon Miller Needs More Help
Miller was Charlotte's best player, finishing with 31 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.
But his supporting cast struggled to generate offense.
Dennis Schröder scored 14 points, and no other Charlotte player reached double figures.
The Hornets shot 44% from the field and 34% from three-point range.
Miller scored only 10 points after halftime as Detroit increasingly disrupted Charlotte's offensive rhythm.
The Hornets managed just 19 points in each of the final two quarters.
S³ Final Analysis
Detroit's victory wasn't an offensive masterpiece.
Scoring 97 points while losing the rebounding battle by 12 isn't usually a formula for a comfortable win.
But the Pistons demonstrated something important: they can win games without dominating offensively.
Cunningham provided the scoring leadership, while Detroit's defensive pressure and ball movement made the difference.
Charlotte had the game's leading scorer and controlled the glass, yet couldn't overcome its turnovers and limited scoring options.
S³ Verdict: Detroit won this game through second-half adjustments, defensive execution and Cade Cunningham's leadership. The Pistons didn't play a complete game, but they took control when it mattered.
Final: Detroit Pistons 97, Charlotte Hornets 89
Records: Detroit 4–1 | Charlotte 3–2
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