Cade Cunningham returns to give the Spark Pistons a comfortable win over the Pacers

November 30, 2024

November 29, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots the ball as Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) defends during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory attribution: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Cade Cunningham returned from injury and scored 24 points. The Detroit Pistons remained undefeated in the NBA Cup while also officially eliminating the reigning runner-up with a 130-106 road win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

Malik Beasley led Detroit with 25 points, while Jaden Ivey added 23 and Tobias Harris had 16 for the Pistons, who will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night in a matchup of 3-0 teams with the Group B title in play East is at stake.

Pascal Siakam had 21 points and Tyrese Haliburton 19 for the Pacers, who fell behind by as many as 12 points in the first quarter and never caught up with the visitors en route to their third straight NBA Cup loss.

With an overall shooting performance of 57.8 percent and an accuracy of 47.4 percent on three-point throws, the Pistons built a lead of up to 15 points in the second period and a lead of 21 points in the third period before losing it in the final period just the second win was secured by six games.

After sitting out three straight games with a strained left hip, Cunningham contributed a game-high 11 assists, recording his sixth straight double-double. He hit 10 of his 19 shots and four of his six 3-point attempts.

Beasley was even better off the bench, shooting 10 of 14 overall and scoring five times from deep. The Pistons outscored the Pacers 54-36 from distance.

Jalen Duran also posted a double-double for the visitors with a game-high 12 rebounds and 14 points and four blocks, while Tim Hardaway Jr. had 10 points, keeping all five Pistons starters in double figures.

The 130 points were a season high for Detroit.

Ben Mathurin had 16 points, TJ McConnell 12 and Jarace Walker 10 for the Pacers, who won the first three contests in four home games. Walker also found time for five steals.

Myles Turner was Indiana’s leading rebounder with a 10-point lead and nine points.

Haliburton collected a team-high five assists to go along with his 19 points.

–Field level media