The Detroit Pistons secured a hard-fought 114-110 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 4, 2026, at Rocket Arena, extending their lead in the Eastern Conference. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 27 points, while reserve Daniss Jenkins erupted for 25 points, including a franchise-record 21 in the second quarter. The victory snapped Detroit's nine-game losing streak at the arena and halted Cleveland's three-game winning streak.
In a matchup between two Eastern Conference powerhouses, the Detroit Pistons overcame injuries to key players and defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-110 on Sunday, January 4, 2026, in Cleveland. The Pistons, leading the East with a 26-9 record, improved to 2-13 against the Cavaliers over the last 15 meetings, snapping a nine-game road losing streak at Rocket Arena.
Despite missing starters Tobias Harris (hip injury, potentially out weeks), Jalen Duren (ankle), and reserve Caris LeVert (knee), Detroit found firepower from the bench. Cade Cunningham scored 27 points on 11-of-11 free throws, adding six rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block. Daniss Jenkins, on a two-way contract, stole the show with 25 points, including 21 in the second quarter on 7-of-7 shooting—six 3-pointers and a three-point play—setting a Pistons record for a reserve in a single quarter, surpassing 20 points by Ron Holland (2024) and Jodie Meeks (2014). "My teammates were just finding me and I was open," Jenkins said. "I was given space and the key to the game was (if) you've got an open shot, you've got to shoot."
The Pistons trailed by nine early but exploded for a season-high 47 points in the second quarter, outscoring Cleveland 47-28 to lead 66-56 at halftime. The Cavaliers, who started strong by holding Detroit to 19 first-quarter points and forcing seven turnovers, mounted a comeback. Donovan Mitchell paced Cleveland with 30 points, 23 after halftime, while Darius Garland added 16 (0-for-7 from 3-point range), Evan Mobley 15, and Sam Merrill 15. Cleveland cut a 13-point deficit to 108-106 with 1:16 left on Garland's basket and closed to within two again with 3.8 seconds remaining, but Jenkins sealed it with four free throws in the final 5.7 seconds.
Detroit went a perfect 21-for-21 from the free-throw line, boosting their lead over the New York Knicks to three games. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson noted, “It’s tough to win in the NBA when you lose to possession game by 10. Their physicality hurt us.” Mitchell added, “Can’t get lax. We should have won this game and we didn’t. That’s on us.” The Pistons host New York on Monday, while Cleveland visits Indiana on Tuesday.
