Pistons Beat Wizards 144-140 in 2OT Behind Cunningham’s 52

The Detroit Pistons defeated the Washington Wizards 144-140 in double overtime Thursday, November 12, 2026, led by Cade Cunningham’s 52 points and 11 assists. Detroit outscored Washington 12-8 in the second extra period at Capital One Arena, overcoming a 37-point, 14-assist performance from Trae Young.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Pistons Take a Narrow Lead

Detroit edged Washington 33-32 in the opening quarter. That one-point margin set the tone for a closely contested game that ultimately required 58 minutes to settle.

Second Quarter: Detroit Extends Its Advantage

The Pistons outscored the Wizards 31-29 in the second period, taking a 64-61 lead into halftime. Detroit won each of the first two quarters, but Washington remained within one possession at the break.

Third Quarter: Pistons Stay Ahead

Detroit added another point to its advantage with a 30-29 third quarter. The Pistons entered the fourth ahead 94-90, having outscored Washington in all three periods without creating much separation.

Fourth Quarter: Washington Forces Overtime

The Wizards answered with a 31-27 fourth quarter, erasing their four-point deficit and tying the game at 121-121 after regulation. Washington’s strongest quarter relative to Detroit ensured the home crowd would see extra basketball.

First Overtime: Still Level

Both teams scored 11 points in the first overtime, leaving the game tied 132-132. Neither side established a decisive advantage during the additional five minutes.

Second Overtime: Detroit Finishes Ahead

The Pistons finally separated themselves by outscoring Washington 12-8 in the second overtime. Detroit finished with a 23-19 advantage across the two extra periods to secure the four-point road victory.

Key Performers

• Cade Cunningham, Pistons: Led all scorers with 52 points and added a team-high 11 assists. His scoring accounted for 36.1% of Detroit’s total.
• Trae Young, Wizards: Paced Washington with 37 points and a game-high 14 assists, providing both scoring and playmaking throughout the extended contest.
• Anthony Davis, Wizards: Led all players with 15 rebounds as Washington finished with a 50-47 advantage on the boards.
• Ausar Thompson, Pistons: Collected a team-high 11 rebounds for Detroit.

NerdSports Stat: Detroit was outscored 114-111 on field goals but won by four because its 33-26 advantage in made free throws more than offset that three-point gap.

Game Analysis

The free-throw line supplied the clearest statistical difference. Detroit made 33 of 39 attempts, while Washington converted 26 of 29. The Wizards were more accurate at 89.7% compared with the Pistons’ 84.6%, but Detroit’s 10 additional attempts produced seven more points.

The teams were closely matched from the floor. Detroit shot 49.5% on 49-for-99 shooting, while Washington finished at 49.0% on 50-for-102 shooting. The Wizards also made one more 3-pointer, going 14-for-37 compared with the Pistons’ 13-for-35.

Washington held advantages in rebounds, 50-47, and assists, 33-28. Those totals helped the Wizards stay competitive and recover in the fourth quarter, but they were not enough to overcome Cunningham’s production and Detroit’s scoring advantage at the line.

The period-by-period results underline how little separated the teams. Neither side outscored the other by more than four points in any quarter or overtime period. Detroit won the first three quarters, Washington won the fourth, and the Pistons delivered the decisive margin in the second overtime.

Closing Context: Detroit Improves to 8-3

The victory moved Detroit to 8-3 overall and 5-1 on the road, while Washington fell to 4-9 overall and 2-3 at home. The Wizards next host the Houston Rockets on Sunday, November 15, at 4:00 p.m. PST. The Pistons return home to face the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, November 17, at 5:00 p.m. PST.

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