No Cade, No Problem: Pistons Flex Depth, Defense in Win Over Pelicans
The Detroit Pistons rolled into New Orleans without their star floor general, Cade Cunningham - and rolled right back out with a win that showed just how deep and disciplined this team really is. Missing their All-Star point guard, who sat out with a left hip contusion, the Pistons didn’t blink. Instead, they leaned into their strengths: balanced scoring, stifling defense, and a fast start that put the Pelicans on their heels from the opening tip.
Detroit came out firing, hitting five of their first six shots - including three of four from beyond the arc - and jumped out to a 13-0 lead before the Pelicans could even settle in. It was a tone-setter, and it held.
New Orleans missed their first four shots and turned the ball over four times in that stretch, digging a hole they never climbed out of. For the third time in four games, the Pelicans fell behind by double digits in the opening quarter - and once again, they never led.
“It’s tough to play from behind every night,” said Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego. “At some point that group has to make a stand or I’ve got to pivot.”
Meanwhile, Detroit didn’t just survive without Cunningham - they thrived. Jalen Duren, one of the league’s most efficient big men, anchored the effort with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 15 rebounds.
The Pistons’ second-year center continues to be a force in the paint, ranking sixth in the league in both rebounding and field goal percentage. He was a problem all night for New Orleans.
But this wasn’t a one-man show. Daniss Jenkins poured in 17 points, Duncan Robinson added 15, Ausar Thompson chipped in 12, and Tobias Harris had 10. That kind of scoring distribution - five players in double figures - is exactly what you want to see when your top scorer is sidelined.
Detroit now sits at 32-10, trailing only the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder for the best record in the league. And if this game is any indication, they’re more than just a one-man team.
On the other side, it was a rough night for the Pelicans, now 10-36 and searching for answers. Saddiq Bey led the way with 20 points, while rookie Micah Peavy had a breakout performance.
Peavy scored a season-high 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and tied his season-high with four steals. It was the kind of game that shows why the Pelicans are excited about his potential.
“I’ve been putting in a lot of work and I’ve been waiting on [an offensive breakout],” Peavy said. “I know I can do it.”
Trey Murphy III added 17, Jeremiah Fears had 12, and Jordan Poole chipped in 11. But the Pelicans couldn’t overcome a tough night from Zion Williamson, who played despite an illness that had him questionable until just 30 minutes before tip-off. He clearly wasn’t himself, finishing with just four points and four rebounds in under 15 minutes before heading to the locker room early in the third quarter.
“He battled through illness,” Borrego said. “He gave us his best shot.”
New Orleans was also without Herb Jones (right ankle sprain) and Jose Alvarado (left oblique strain), both missing their eighth straight game. Jones has now missed 15 of the last 16 contests, and the Pelicans’ depth continues to be tested.
Detroit, meanwhile, continues to make its name on defense. The Pistons came into the game leading the league in steals (10.4 per game) and blocks (6.7), while ranking second in opponent field goal percentage (.439) and third in rebounds (46.3). That defensive identity was on full display against a Pelicans team that already struggles from deep - 29th in made threes and 28th in attempts - and hit just 7-of-32 from beyond the arc.
“They do this to a number of teams,” Borrego said. “They’re one of the more physical defensive teams.
You’ve got to go through it and figure it out. They just overwhelmed us at times.”
The Pistons also dominated the transition game, racking up 36 fast-break points to the Pelicans’ 16, and capitalized on 19 New Orleans turnovers for 32 points - both season-highs for a Pelicans opponent.
After a six-point halftime lead, Detroit pushed the margin to double digits in the third quarter while Zion exited for good. The Pelicans briefly rallied - five different players scored one bucket each to cut it to 89-84 heading into the fourth - but the Pistons never let them get closer than five.
Peavy and Bey combined for nine quick points to pull New Orleans within 101-96, but Detroit answered with a 6-0 run that pushed the lead back to 11 with under three minutes to go. From there, it was cruise control.
Detroit’s early burst - and the Pelicans’ inability to match it - set the tone. After the 13-0 opening run, New Orleans responded with nine straight, but the Pistons rebuilt the lead to 12. A flurry of threes - two from Peavy, one each from Karlo Matkovic and Murphy - helped the Pelicans close the first quarter down just 34-30.
But Detroit opened the second quarter on a 9-2 run, stretched the lead to 11 again, and held on through a late Pelicans push to take a 68-62 edge into the break.
The Pistons will host the Pelicans again on March 26, but for now, they leave New Orleans with a statement win - one that shows this team isn’t just built on Cade Cunningham’s shoulders. They’re built to last.