The Washington Wizards defeated the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons 126-117 on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena, overcoming a roster limited to 10 available players and improving to 14-36 on the season. Detroit dropped to 37-13, ending a stretch in which it had won five of six games.
Will Riley led the scoring with 20 points off the bench, while Sharife Cooper added 18 points and five assists as Washington generated steady offense through its second unit. The visitors scored 69 points from reserves, a key factor against a Detroit lineup that struggled to match the depth production.
Justin Champagnie and Tristan Vukcevic each finished with 14 points, helping the capital club shoot 54% from the field and 44% from three-point range. Ball movement created efficient looks, as the team recorded 30 assists and limited live-ball mistakes during decisive stretches.
Detroit received 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists from Cade Cunningham, who carried the primary playmaking load throughout the game. Duncan Robinson added 21 points and converted six three-pointers, including a four-point play that cut the deficit to five midway through the fourth quarter.
The home side’s offense stalled beyond the arc, finishing 9-for-33 from three-point range, which allowed Washington to maintain a scoring cushion despite Detroit’s rebounding advantage. All-Star center Jalen Duren posted four points and three rebounds in 13 minutes before leaving with knee soreness, forcing adjustments to the interior rotation.
After trailing by 17 in the third quarter, the Pistons trimmed the margin to 112-107 following Robinson’s four-point play with 4:15 remaining. Bilal Coulibay responded with a banked three-pointer at the shot-clock buzzer, shifting momentum back to the Wizards and limiting Detroit’s comeback chances.
Washington’s lineup balance showed through multiple contributors, including Bub Carrington’s 12 points and Alex Sarr’s interior scoring, which kept defensive pressure off the primary ball handlers. The Wizards have now won four of six games since a nine-game losing streak, showing improved offensive spacing and transition execution.
Detroit struggled to generate consistent half-court stops late, allowing repeated paint touches and kick-out threes during the final minutes. The Pistons remain first in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Wizards continue their road trip Saturday against Brooklyn, while the Pistons return home Friday night to face New York in a matchup with implications near the top of the conference standings.
