The Detroit Pistons didn’t just beat the Hornets; they crushed them by 33 points in a 124-91 rout. Cade Cunningham led the way with a season-high 33 points, adding seven assists and five steals to show why he is the engine of this new Pistons squad. Sports Illustrated reports that this commanding win cements their spot near the summit of early Eastern Conference rankings, representing their best season opener in more than ten years.
The Turnover Problem Is Real
The Hornets cannot keep turning the ball over like this. They coughed up 27 possessions to Detroit, which gave the Pistons easy points on the fast break. Yahoo Sports notes the Hornets stand alone as the sole NBA franchise averaging under 100 points per game, with a figure of 97.4. When you add in their 29.6% shooting from deep, the offense looks stuck. Brandon Miller tried to keep things close with 17 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding. The Pistons forced 27 turnovers and used those stops to build a massive lead that the Hornets could never touch.
Duncan Robinson Is the Difference Maker
In his first start of the season, he made six of his nine 3-point attempts and scored 24 points. His energy sparked a 27-2 run in the third quarter that effectively ended the game. Robinson explained the shift simply after the game. “We got stops,” Duncan Robinson commented on that key moment. “I think they were stuck at 75 for a while. When we get stops, the game becomes really easy for us.” The Pistons also got 11 points from Ron Holland II, who stayed in the game late and kept the pressure on. This depth is what separates a good team from a great one.
Charlotte fans are used to seeing their team struggle, but this loss feels different. The Hornets led the league in 3-pointers made last season, yet they are now tied for 16th in makes this year. Naz Reid is averaging a career-high 15.5 points, but his shooting percentage has dropped to 39.5%. The team needs to find a way to score without relying solely on the outside shot. Detroit has shown they can punish teams that make mistakes, and the Hornets made plenty of them. The Pistons will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, but the Hornets face the Brooklyn Nets on the road.
