Detroit maintains top spot in the East after walloping New Orleans

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Detroit Pistons remained the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference following a lopsided victory over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans, 129–108, in the ongoing NBA regular season on March 27, 2026.

Despite the absence of superstar Cade Cunningham, who is still recovering from a collapsed lung, the Pistons continued to roll and banked on a balanced offensive attack led by Jalen Duren, who finished with another efficient double-double.

Duren continued to fill Cunningham’s shoes as he exploded for 30 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field, along with 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks, in just 31 minutes of playing time.

The Pistons had to endure a blistering hot start from the Pelicans as Zion Williamson got it going early in the first quarter.

After a series of isolation dunks and second-chance putback efforts, New Orleans took a narrow two-point lead entering the second frame, 31–33, but Duren’s timely two-way spree haunted the Pelicans when Detroit suddenly turned the tables from trailing to holding a double-digit lead.

Joining Duren during the Pistons’ second-quarter rampage were veteran shooter Kevin Huerter and pesky guard Daniss Jenkins.

Huerter was responsible for Detroit’s momentum-boosting 16–2 run inside the final five minutes of the second quarter, while Jenkins anchored the Pistons’ defense on the perimeter, specifically when New Orleans stuck with its pick-and-roll plays.

Unfortunately, the Pelicans’ efficiency in the pick-and-roll slowly faded, thanks to Jenkins, who communicated with his frontcourt teammates by yelling to go under, bump or over on the screens.

New Orleans showed one last fight in the third quarter before Detroit ran away with a demoralizing fourth-quarter surge that established its biggest lead of the ballgame at 23 points.

Huerter not only put on a stellar shooting clinic, but he also recorded his second-best offensive performance of the season with 22 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal.

It was a sigh of relief for Detroit fans after Huerter struggled with his catch-and-shoot rhythm during the past five games, and against the Pelicans, he finished 4-of-7 from 3-point range and 9-of-14 from the field.

Backstopping Duren and Huerter was Jenkins, who nearly wrapped up the win with a double-double stat line of 19 points, nine assists, two rebounds and a steal.

The Pistons will look to bag another win on March 29, 2026, against the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Pelicans seek to return to the NBA win column today against the Toronto Raptors.