Cade Cunningham scored 21 points and made two clutch free throws with 5.5 seconds left to lift the Detroit Pistons (1-1) past the Houston Rockets (0-2) 115-111 on Friday night.
Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff earned his 300th career win, joining his father Bernie Bickerstaff as the first father-son duo in NBA history to each reach 300 wins.
The Pistons held a 113-110 lead after Paul Reed’s layup, but Houston cut it to two when Alperen Sengun made one of two free throws with 1:32 remaining. Both teams missed three-point attempts in the final minute before Reed blocked Sengun’s shot with 16.4 seconds left.
Houston was forced to foul, allowing Cunningham to sink two free throws and secure Detroit’s first win of the season following a loss to Chicago. Ausar Thompson added 19 points, outpacing his twin brother Amen Thompson, who had 10 for Houston.
Kevin Durant scored a team-high 37 points, hitting 16 of 18 free throws and three three-pointers after missing all four of his long-range attempts in his debut Tuesday for the Rockets. Durant scored all of Houston’s points in an 8-3 run to tie the game at 101 midway through the fourth quarter.
The Pistons responded with a 6-0 run to lead 111-105 with three minutes remaining. Houston trimmed the deficit to one with less than two minutes left, but Detroit held firm down the stretch.
Detroit shot 46.7% from the field and 41.0% from three-point range, while Houston made 38.6% overall and 45.5% from deep. The Pistons also won the rebounding battle, 48-45, which proved crucial in the closing moments.
Detroit will host the Boston Celtics on Sunday, while Houston returns home to face the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.
