And in another overtime thriller, the Motor City Kitties pulled off a dramatic 134-133 wasteland shootout win over the Wizards of Washington. With this win, they moved to 9-2 on the season. The high-level skill brought some amazing performances to the national stage. Pistons’ Jenkins added a season-high 24 points, and Jalen Duren worked a dominant double-double with 19 points and 14 boards.
The Wizards powered to an impressive 117-108 upset. That momentum came courtesy of a huge three-pointer by CJ McCollum, with just over four minutes remaining in regulation. It was the Pistons who came storming back, especially in the final seconds, demonstrating a never-give-up attitude and fight.
In a game rich with oddball stats, 45 points from Cunningham has to be one of the more unexpected. He struggled with his shot, making just 14 of 45 shots from the floor. His insipid performance earned him the unwanted record for the most career high missed shots in a single game, an astounding 28 since the NBA’s merger in 1976-77. He broke Rick Barry’s 1967 record of 33 consecutive missed shots. Cunningham’s effective field goal percentage is 31.1%. This stat has already led to comparisons with James Harden’s infamous 45-point game in 2019, in which he shot just a 20.7% clip.
As this game rolled into overtime, Robinson became the most important person on the floor for Detroit. With just 1:04 left on the clock, Robinson drained a pivotal 3-pointer, giving the Pistons a lead they would not relinquish. Jenkins played a huge role all game long, consistently sparking Detroit when they needed it the most during some key stretches.
Cunningham’s early shooting woes continued through Saturday night. He entered an exclusive club, becoming one of just 1,534 players to ever score 45 or more points in NBA history, a testament to the power of this milestone. It would be the Pistons’ shots taken during the right moments, their discipline and team unity that would press them past the finish line.
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