NBA: Cade Cunningham, surging Pistons rout Jazz
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, center, looks to pass the ball as Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) and guard Collin Sexton, right, defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 3, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Cade Cunningham scored 29 points and the Detroit Pistons cruised to their 10th win in 11 games by beating the Utah Jazz 134-106 on Monday in Salt Lake City.
Cunningham, who also contributed nine assists and four steals, scored 17 points in the first half as Detroit built a 23-point lead en route to a blowout in the opener of a four-game road trip.
Jalen Duren contributed 16 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks, two assists and two steals, while former Jazz players Malik Beasley and Simone Fontecchio scored 15 and 10, respectively.
READ: NBA: Cade Cunningham breaks out of slump to lead Pistons past Nets
Cade got it done in all phases as the Pistons moved to 10-1 in their last 11!
🏀 29 PTS
🏀 9 AST
🏀 4 STL pic.twitter.com/4Q8Ks98Byi— NBA (@NBA) March 4, 2025
Ausar Thompson added 17 points, six boards, five assists and three steals. He made 7 of 7 field-goal attempts for Detroit, which sank 55.4 percent of its shots.
Kyle Filipowski led Utah with 25 points and four 3-pointers. He also hauled in eight boards in a reserve role.
Collin Sexton scored 16 and Walker Kessler had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz, who lost their second game in as many nights.
Utah concluded its homestand with a 3-6 record. The Jazz will play their first road game since Feb. 10 on Wednesday in Washington, when they begin a five-game trek.
The Jazz turned the ball over 28 times and shot just 42.7 percent from the field while falling for the fourth time in five outings.
READ: NBA: Jamal Murray, Nuggets snap Pistons’ eight-game win streak
Sexton gave the Jazz a 16-15 lead midway in the first quarter when the Pistons made their move.
Dennis Schroder sparked a 14-0 run with a 3-pointer. During a four-minute scoreless stretch, the Jazz committed five turnovers against the feisty Detroit defense.
Cunningham scored 11 points in the second quarter as the Pistons cruised into halftime up 67-47.
In that decisive first half, the Pistons dished out 16 assists with just four turnovers compared to five assists and 18 giveaways for the Jazz. Detroit finished with 32 assists and 13 turnovers.
