WASHINGTON: Cade Cunningham’s triple double, Daniss Jenkins’s three-pointer at the buzzer and Javonte Green’s overtime dunk lifted Detroit past Washington 137-135 on Monday, stretching the Pistons’ win streak to seven games.
In an unexpected thriller, the NBA’s second-best team barely outlasted a Wizards club that fell to an NBA-worst 1-10 with their ninth consecutive loss.
“We knew how big this game was for us,” Jenkins said. “We wasn’t going to let nothing stop us from getting this W.”
Cunningham made 14-of-45 shots for a career-high 46 points and added 12 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals and two blocked shots as Detroit improved to 9-2.
“He’s the one who is going to lead this team whatever we do,” Detroit’s Jalen Duren said of Cunningham. “And to see him fight through and be the great player he is gave us the confidence.”
Jenkins came off the bench for a career-high 24 points and eight rebounds while Duren added 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons.
C.J. McCollum, who led Washington with 42 points, sank a floater with 14 seconds remaining to give the Wizards a 126-121 lead.
But Jenkins, who hadn’t played in three games, sank a three-pointer with three seconds remaining and, after a Kyshawn George free throw for Washington, hit another three-pointer at the buzzer to equalize at 127-127 and force overtime.
“I told myself if I got that ball I was going to shoot it,” Jenkins said. “He trusted me and passed it to me and it went in.
“I know what I’m capable of. I just had to believe in myself and trust in my work.”
Duren said of Jenkins: “He never shies away from the moment. He’s going to be a great player in this league and that showed tonight.”
In the extra session, Duncan Robinson’s three-pointer gave
Read more on arabnews.com
arabnews.com
