Detroit Pistons Defeat Indiana Pacers 122-117 for 13th Straight Win/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Detroit Pistons defeated the Indiana Pacers 122-117 on Monday, tying their franchise record with a 13th consecutive win. Cade Cunningham led the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds, as Detroit improved to 15-2 on the season. Despite a late push from the Pacers, the Pistons held firm to remain atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Pistons Tie Franchise Record With 13th Straight Win: Quick Looks
- Detroit wins 13th game in a row, tying franchise record set in 1989-90 and 2003-04
- Cade Cunningham posts 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Pistons
- Jalen Duren adds 17 points and 12 rebounds, Caris LeVert contributes 19
- Jaden Ivey scores 12 points in second game back from injury
- Detroit shoots 58.5% from the field in the first half and builds a 71-55 lead
- Pacers storm back from 18 down, cut lead to 2 in final seconds
- Bennedict Mathurin misses game-tying 3-pointer with 11 seconds left
- Pascal Siakam leads Indiana with 24 points, Jarace Walker adds 21
- Injury to Tyrese Haliburton continues to hurt Pacers, who fall to 2-15
- Next NBA Cup matchups: Pistons face Boston, Pacers visit Toronto
Detroit Pistons Defeat Indiana Pacers 122-117 for 13th Straight Win
Deep Look
INDIANAPOLIS — The Detroit Pistons extended their winning streak to 13 games on Monday night, tying a franchise record and continuing one of the most surprising starts in recent NBA memory. Behind another standout performance from Cade Cunningham, Detroit edged past the Indiana Pacers 122-117, improving to 15-2 and keeping their grip on the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Cunningham, the former No. 1 overall pick, recorded 24 points and 11 rebounds, setting the tone for a team that just two years ago made history for all the wrong reasons by losing 28 straight games. That season marked the worst in NBA history for consecutive losses in a single campaign, but the 2025-26 Pistons have flipped the narrative completely.
With Monday’s win, Detroit matched the 13-game winning streaks posted by the team’s championship squads in 1989-90 and 2003-04. The accomplishment underscores the dramatic turnaround and growing belief around this young core.
The Pistons took control early, dominating the second quarter 36-23 to grab a 71-55 halftime lead, powered by 58.5% shooting from the field and sharp 3-point shooting (7-of-14). By the end of the third, Detroit led 101-88 and seemed in full command.
But the Pacers, battered by injuries and missing star guard Tyrese Haliburton, refused to go quietly. Trailing by 18 early in the fourth, Indiana clawed back behind Pascal Siakam’s 24 points and rookie Jarace Walker’s 21-point outing. With the clock winding down, Bennedict Mathurin had a chance to tie it with a three-pointer at the 11-second mark, but the shot missed and the Pistons held on.
Caris LeVert was instrumental off the bench for Detroit, chipping in 19 points, while Jalen Duren anchored the frontcourt with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Second-year guard Jaden Ivey added 12 points in his second game back from a left fibula fracture, giving the Pistons yet another offensive spark.
Despite being short-handed, Indiana showed heart and resilience. The absence of Haliburton—who tore his Achilles in last season’s NBA Finals loss to Oklahoma City—continues to loom large. The Pacers have now dropped 10 of their last 11 games, falling to 2-15, and face an uphill climb to regain footing in a competitive Eastern Conference.
Even with Detroit’s late-game nerves and Indiana’s furious rally, the Pistons showed a maturity beyond their years, closing the game out calmly at the free-throw line and with solid team defense.
Injury Updates
- Pacers: Continue to be without Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles)
- Pistons: No new injuries reported
Up Next
- Pistons: Face the Boston Celtics on Wednesday in an NBA In-Season Tournament matchup
- Pacers: Travel to face the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday for their NBA Cup game
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