Pistons Snap Hornets’ Streak, Throw Punches and Their Weight Around in Statement Win
CHARLOTTE - Monday night’s showdown between the Eastern Conference’s top dog and its hottest riser had all the makings of a playoff preview - and it delivered, just not in the way anyone expected. The Detroit Pistons not only snapped the Charlotte Hornets’ nine-game win streak with a gritty 110-104 win, but they also left a few bruises behind in a game that turned downright hostile.
This one got heated - fast. Five ejections, including players from both sides and Hornets head coach Charles Lee, turned a high-stakes matchup into a full-blown melee.
Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren, Moussa Diabaté, Miles Bridges, and Lee were all tossed after tempers flared and punches were thrown. It was the kind of chaos that overshadows a box score - but make no mistake, Detroit handled their business on the court too.
Cade Cunningham was the steady hand in the storm. The Pistons’ star guard poured in a game-high 33 points, along with nine rebounds and seven assists, doing just about everything short of mopping the floor. He controlled the tempo, attacked mismatches, and made sure Detroit stayed composed when the game threatened to spiral out of control - both emotionally and on the scoreboard.
The Pistons didn’t shoot the lights out - far from it. They went just 5-for-25 from deep, a rough 20% clip that would sink most teams.
But this group leans on its identity: physicality, paint dominance, and opportunistic defense. Detroit racked up 60 points in the paint and turned 23 Hornets turnovers into points the other way.
That’s been their bread and butter all season, and it’s what allowed them to grind out a win in a hostile environment.
Before tipoff, Hornets coach Charles Lee had pointed to Detroit’s physicality as a turning point in his team’s season. Back in December, the Pistons steamrolled Charlotte 112-86, a loss Lee said helped Charlotte find its edge. Ironically, it was that same physicality that overwhelmed the Hornets again - and this time, it boiled over.
Now, with suspensions likely looming for both teams, Detroit walks away not just with a win, but with a message sent to the rest of the conference. This team isn’t just winning - they’re dictating the terms. At 110-104, it wasn’t a blowout, but it was a statement.
Next up for the Pistons: a trip to Toronto to face the Raptors on Wednesday before heading into the All-Star break. With a six-game cushion atop the East over the Knicks and Celtics, Detroit's grip on the conference isn’t just firm - it’s starting to look unshakeable.