Pistons Bounce Back, Sixers Dealing With Injuries

Detroit routs Brooklyn, while Philadelphia loses Tyrese Maxey to finger injury

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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The Detroit Pistons snapped a four-game losing streak by routing the Brooklyn Nets 138-100, led by strong performances from All-Stars Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers are dealing with another injury, as All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey will miss at least three weeks due to a finger injury. The Sixers are also without forward Paul George, who is serving a league suspension.

Why it matters

The Pistons' win helps them maintain their lead over the Boston Celtics for the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The short-handed Sixers are trying to work their way out of the play-in tournament and capture a top-six seed, but the latest injury to Maxey makes that a difficult task.

The details

In the Pistons' win over the Nets, Cunningham had 21 points and 15 assists, while Duren scored a team-high 26 points. The Sixers' 139-129 win over the Memphis Grizzlies was led by rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, who had 21 points, 5 assists and 3 steals while filling in for the injured Maxey. The Pistons have won the first two games of the season series against the Sixers.

  • The Pistons snapped a four-game losing streak on Tuesday, March 12, 2026.
  • Tyrese Maxey will miss at least three weeks due to a finger injury.
  • Paul George is still serving a 25-game league suspension.

The players

Cade Cunningham

An All-Star guard for the Detroit Pistons.

Jalen Duren

An All-Star center for the Detroit Pistons.

VJ Edgecombe

A rookie guard for the Philadelphia 76ers who stepped up in Tyrese Maxey's absence.

Tyrese Maxey

An All-Star guard for the Philadelphia 76ers who will miss at least three weeks due to a finger injury.

Paul George

A forward for the Philadelphia 76ers who is serving a 25-game league suspension.

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What they’re saying

“We did what we were supposed to do. They stuck to the script. They stayed together. They stayed consistent with our approach. They had their minds made up that they were going to go out there and take care of business.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Pistons coach (Detroit News)

“That was a huge emphasis -- to not play the score, just going out there and to continue to do the next right thing. I thought we did a good job of that.”

— Cade Cunningham, Pistons All-Star guard (Detroit News)

“You can't replace Tyrese Maxey. He's one of one. ... Obviously, all year. It hurts for him to go down, but now everyone else has to step up. He knows it's next man up.”

— VJ Edgecombe, Sixers rookie guard (Philadelphia Inquirer)

“I really thought VJ gave us a huge spark. He just all of a sudden started getting offensive rebounds and putbacks. Leadership-wise, with his energy, just really sparked that whole run with some of the tough plays he was making.”

— Nick Nurse, Sixers coach (Philadelphia Inquirer)

What’s next

The Pistons will look to build a winning streak when they host the short-handed Sixers on Thursday, March 14, 2026. The Sixers will need to find a way to overcome the loss of Tyrese Maxey as they try to improve their position in the Eastern Conference standings.

The takeaway

The Pistons' dominant win over the Nets shows they are back on track, while the Sixers' latest injury to Maxey highlights the challenges they face in trying to secure a top-six playoff seed in the East. Both teams will need to rely on their depth and other key players to navigate the remainder of the regular season.