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Pistons Rout Hornets 124-91 as Cunningham Scores 33 in Third-Quarter Surge
Cade Cunningham scored a season-high 33 points as the Detroit Pistons routed the Charlotte Hornets 124-91 on Monday night at Spectrum Center, turning a close game into a blowout with a devastating third-quarter surge. Cunningham scored 17 points in the third quarter alone and did not play in the fourth, as Detroit improved to 6-1 with a third straight victory while Charlotte fell to 3-5.
Key Points
- Cade Cunningham scored 33 points, including 17 in the third quarter, as Detroit beat Charlotte 124-91.
- Duncan Robinson added 24 points with six three-pointers in the Pistons' third straight win.
- Detroit closed the third quarter with a 19-0 run and extended the surge to 27-2 early in the fourth.
- The Pistons shot 57.3 percent from the field and forced 25 Hornets turnovers, scoring 37 points off them.
- Charlotte's Coby White scored seven points in 16 minutes in his season debut after a calf strain.
What Happened
Detroit led 27-24 after the first quarter, and Charlotte's biggest lead of the night was only three points, at 30-27 early in the second. The Pistons took an 11-point lead into half-time and then broke the game open in the third, outscoring Charlotte 33-21 in the period. The decisive sequence came late in the third: Charlotte got within 79-75 on a Dennis Schroder layup with 4:58 left, and then did not score for the rest of the quarter. Detroit scored the last 19 points of the period, 11 of them from Cunningham, who capped the stretch with a running dunk after a steal, and led 98-75 going into the fourth. Robinson hit three more three-pointers early in the fourth, and by 6:28 the margin was 115-83, the end of a 36-8 stretch from that 79-75 score in the third. Detroit's largest lead was 33 points, and with eight minutes left Charlotte coach Charles Lee emptied his bench.
Background: A Rematch Detroit Controlled From Both Ends
The win completed a season sweep of sorts in less than a week. Detroit had beaten Charlotte 97-89 at home the previous week, relying then on defence to get the job done. This time the Pistons had it going at both ends of the court. They shot 57.3 percent overall and 48.6 percent from three-point range, making 18 of 37 attempts, while holding Charlotte to 38.1 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from three. Detroit also scored 37 points off 25 Hornets turnovers and held Charlotte scoreless from the 4:48 mark of the third quarter until the 11:23 mark of the fourth. The Pistons did it short-handed too: Jalen Duren missed a fifth straight game with a right hamstring strain, and Isaiah Joe missed a fourth straight with a right hip contusion. Through seven games Detroit has played five on the road, and at 6-1 the Pistons are tied with Philadelphia and Boston in the loss column for the East's best record.
Pistons Rout Hornets Behind Cunningham's Third-Quarter Surge
Cunningham was the story, finishing 13 of 20 from the field with four three-pointers, seven assists, five rebounds and five steals in three quarters. His 17-point third quarter changed the game, as he scored off blocks, missed shots and Hornets turnovers to spark the run that buried Charlotte. Robinson was almost as hot, finishing with 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting and six three-pointers, heating up in the fourth quarter after the game was already decided. Ausar Thompson added 14 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Paul Reed and Ronald Holland II scored 11 each. For Charlotte, Brandon Miller led the way with 17 points on 7-of-18 shooting, and Naz Reid added 13. White's return was the one bright spot for the home crowd: the point guard, out since the preseason with a calf strain, scored seven points in 16 minutes, but he could not stop a third straight defeat for a Hornets side that had entered the night hoping his comeback would spark a turnaround.
Reactions and Quotes
Reports from Charlotte described a game that was competitive for two and a half quarters before Detroit's talent and execution took over completely. The Hornets had entered the night on a three-game skid but with genuine hope, given White's return, and the early stages suggested a contest. Once Cunningham found his rhythm in the third quarter, however, there was no answer. For Detroit, the performance was described as the finest offensive showing of the young season, and a sign that the Pistons can win in different ways: grinding out a defensive win last week, then overwhelming the same opponent with shooting and pace in the rematch. Charlotte, meanwhile, must regroup quickly, with the same defensive lapses and turnovers punished twice in a week by the same team.
Why It Matters
Detroit's start is starting to look like more than an early-season hot streak. At 6-1, with a 4-1 road record and wins built on both defence and shooting, the Pistons have the profile of a team that can stay near the top of the Eastern Conference. Cunningham's form is central to that: when the franchise guard scores efficiently, defends and creates for others, Detroit has answers for most opponents. For Charlotte, the defeat raises familiar questions about turnovers and defensive consistency. Giving up 37 points off giveaways and allowing an opponent to shoot nearly 58 percent is a recipe for blowouts, and the Hornets will need White's return to settle the offence rather than mask deeper problems.
What Happens Next
Detroit hosts the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, a meeting with the team it is tied with in the loss column at the top of the East. Charlotte visits the Brooklyn Nets the same night, looking to end a three-game losing run.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between the Pistons and Hornets?
Detroit won 124-91 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte on Monday, 2 November 2026.
How many points did Cade Cunningham score?
Cunningham scored a season-high 33 points, including 17 in the third quarter, and did not play in the fourth.
What decided the game?
A 19-0 run to close the third quarter, extended to 27-2 early in the fourth, turned a four-point game into a blowout.
What are the teams' records now?
Detroit improved to 6-1, including 4-1 on the road, while Charlotte fell to 3-5.
Who do the teams play next?
Detroit hosts Philadelphia on Wednesday, and Charlotte visits Brooklyn on Wednesday.
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