Hours after the NBA trade deadline passed, the Detroit Pistons delivered one of their worst defensive performances of the season in a loss to a rebuilding team.
They fell to the Washington Wizards at home, 126-117, on Thursday, Feb. 5, while allowing the rebuilding Wizards (who picked up just their 14th win) to shoot 53.8% overall. That included a big third quarter in which they outscored the Pistons, 39-32, while knocking down 11 of 19 attempts. This was despite being shorthanded after trading several rotation players to land Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCade Cunningham led the Pistons with 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Duncan Robinson added 21 points. They were without Tobias Harris (left hip soreness), and Jalen Duren left the game at halftime. Kevin Huerter, officially acquired from the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, made his season debut and played six minutes.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) defends Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr (20) during the first quarter at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026.JALEN DUREN INJURY: Pistons center exits game vs Washington Wizards
The Pistons trailed by as many as 22 points, 45-23, early in the second quarter after being outscored 34-21 in the first.
Detroit Pistons playoff picture
Thursday’s loss dropped the Pistons to 37-13 and shrunk their Eastern Conference lead to 4½ games over the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics. The Pistons will have a change to get back a game vs. the Knicks on Friday (7:30 p.m., Prime Video) in the second half of a back-to-back at LCA. The Pistons’ lead in the Central Division shrank to seven games over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were idle Thursday.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHuerter makes his debut, plays briefly
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff went nine deep into his rotation in search of a first-quarter spark. In the second quarter, he turned to the team’s most recent arrival.
Huerter made his Pistons debut at the start of the second, joining Isaiah Stewart, Javonte Green, Marcus Sasser and Caris LeVert on the floor. It was a quiet debut, though, as he finished with zero points on 0-for-2 shooting in close to six minutes of action.
Duren exits game in second half
Duren started the game but didn't return for the final two periods. He had a quiet first half, finishing with four points and three rebounds in under 13 minutes.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDuren recently was named an All-Star reserve for the first time in his career and reportedly accepted an invitation to the All-Star dunk contest on Feb. 14. He has missed seven games this season, most recently sitting out four in a row in January with an ankle sprain.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons spellbound in stunning loss to Washington Wizards
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