Pistons beat defending champs 124-116

Duren, Cunningham lead Pistons past short-handed Thunder

Feb. 26, 2026 at 3:52pm

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The Detroit Pistons defeated the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder 124-116 on Wednesday night. Jalen Duren had 29 points and 15 rebounds, while Cade Cunningham added 29 points and 13 assists for the Pistons. The Thunder were missing five of their six leading scorers due to injuries.

Why it matters

The win helps the East-leading Pistons continue their strong season, while the short-handed Thunder struggled without several key players. The game highlighted the depth and talent of the Pistons, who have won six of their last seven games.

The details

The Pistons were led by Jalen Duren's 29 points and 15 rebounds, as well as Cade Cunningham's 29 points and 13 assists. The Thunder were missing Shai Alexander-Gilgeous, Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell, and Jalen Williams due to various injuries. The only one of the Thunder's top six scorers to start was Isaiah Joe, who left at halftime with a bruised hip.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.

The players

Jalen Duren

A Pistons player who had 29 points and 15 rebounds in the game.

Cade Cunningham

A Pistons player who had 29 points and 13 assists in the game.

Isaiah Joe

A Thunder player who started the game but left at halftime due to a bruised hip.

Jaylin Williams

A Thunder player who scored a career-high 30 points in the game.

Duncan Robinson

A Pistons player who scored 16 points in the game.

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The takeaway

The Pistons' win over the defending champion Thunder showcased the team's depth and talent, as they were able to overcome the absence of several key Thunder players due to injury. The game highlighted the Pistons' strong season and their ability to compete with the top teams in the league.