Cunningham Scores 52 as Pistons Beat Wizards 144-140 in 2OT

Cade Cunningham scored 52 points with 11 assists and the Detroit Pistons beat the Washington Wizards 144-140 in double overtime on Thursday night at Capital One Arena. Cunningham shot 16 of 25 from the field and 17 of 18 at the free throw line in 48 minutes. Daniss Jenkins added 21 points and six rebounds for Detroit. The Pistons won the second overtime 12-8 and closed the game on a Cunningham jumper from 12 feet that made it 142-140 with 25 seconds left.

Washington led 118-117 with 26 seconds left in regulation when the game turned rough. Cunningham spun away from a double team and his jaw caught rookie AJ Dybantsa in the face. Dybantsa fell to the floor bleeding from the mouth and was called for the defensive foul. Washington challenged the call and the referees upheld it. Dybantsa got cleaned up on the bench and stayed in the game. Cunningham made his free throws, and Trae Young hit a three at the buzzer to tie the game at 121 and force overtime.

Two overtimes to settle it

The first overtime ended the same way. Cunningham tied the game at 130 with a three, then set up Duncan Robinson for a jumper and a 132-130 lead with nine seconds left. Dybantsa drove and hit a pull-up jumper at the buzzer to tie it at 132 and force a second overtime. Anthony Davis fouled out early in the second overtime and Detroit pushed ahead 137-132 without Washington's main rim protector on the floor. Washington cut it to two in the final minute but could not get back in front.

Why it matters

The loss was Washington's sixth in a row and dropped the Wizards to 4-9. It came on the second night of a back-to-back, one night after a 114-101 loss to Indiana, and it was the second loss to Detroit in four days. The Pistons beat the Wizards 122-111 in Detroit on Monday, November 9. Detroit improved to 8-3 with a win built almost entirely on its star guard. Cunningham scored or assisted on the plays that tied the game in the first overtime and won it in the second.

What happens next

Washington is off until Sunday, November 15, when it hosts the Houston Rockets at Capital One Arena. Detroit leaves Washington with both meetings this week won and a guard playing at a level few teams have slowed down this season.