DETROIT Pistons ended Charlotte Hornets’ nine-game winning streak with a 110-104 victory in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season on Monday night (Tuesday in the Philippines) in Charlotte in a contest overshadowed by a third-quarter brawl that led to four ejections.
Cade Cunningham spearheaded the offense for the Pistons with 33 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as Detroit secured its seventh victory in the last nine games.
The physical game turned chaotic midway through the third quarter following a confrontation in the paint between Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate and Detroit’s Jalen Duren.
Diabate fouled Duren while attempting to contest a shot, prompting an exchange that escalated into a larger altercation. A second scuffle soon broke out near midcourt involving Charlotte’s Miles Bridges and Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart, who left the bench area.
The disturbance spread across much of the court before officials restored order. Diabate, Bridges, Duren and Stewart were all ejected with 7:09 remaining in the third quarter, when Detroit held a 70-62 advantage.
Duncan Robinson added 18 points on efficient shooting for the Pistons, while Duren finished with 15 points in 20 minutes and Paul Reed contributed 12. Tobias Harris chipped in 11 points, including a key late jumper that helped seal the win.
Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 24 points, while Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball scored 20 points each. Despite being held scoreless, Diabate grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
In New Orleans, Trey Murphy III made five 3-pointers and finished with 21 points, Jeremiah Fears scored 14 of his 20 in the second half and the Pelicans sent Sacramento Kings to their 13th straight loss, 120-94.
Murphy has made 23 3-pointers on 40 attempts (72.5%) in the last three games. Zion Williamson scored 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and had six assists for New Orleans.
In other results, Utah Jazz pulled off a 115-111 upset over Miami Heat; Minnesota Timberwolves clobbered Atlanta Hawks, 138-116; Brooklyn Nets edged Chicago Bulls, 123-115; and Orlando Magic defeated Milwaukee Bucks, 118-99./PN
