After subpar first half, Pistons bounce back in win vs. Hornets

Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News on Oct 28, 2026

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DETROIT — Coach J.B. Bickerstaff wasn't fazed that the Detroit Pistons were coming off their first loss of the season less than 24 hours before Wednesday night's tipoff against the Charlotte Hornets at Little Caesars Arena. For Bickerstaff, the Pistons' struggles in their 111-97 loss to the New York Knicks were an anomaly, especially defensively.

"Defensively, we need to be sound and not make mistakes that I thought we were making last night that made us pay," Bickerstaff said. "I think for us, it's like you start making shots, and you start to feel like you can just hang onto that. But for us, that's not our identity. ... It's maintaining who we are first, being able to do that consistently and then going from there."

It took nearly a half for the Pistons to find their defensive rhythm, but their second-half production led to a 97-89 victory. Cade Cunningham led the way with a team-best 30 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Paul Reed added 16 points on 5-for-7 shooting and 2-for-2 shooting from 3. Duncan Robinson finished with 13 points.

The Pistons' improved defense in the final two quarters forced the Hornets into 10 turnovers, leading to seven points for Detroit. Detroit's defensive production came largely in the third period. As a result of their identity, the Pistons' defense opened up their offense, which led to Detroit outscoring Charlotte 32-19.

Javonte Green played a huge role in Detroit's third-quarter play. He played much of the period for John Collins, who picked up his fourth personal foul at the 11:12 mark. Green scored all seven of his points in the quarter, and his hustle and defense were vital to Detroit's defensive success.

However, Green wasn't the only player to come off the bench and help lift the Pistons out of their lackluster play. Daniss Jenkins scored 14 points in 24 minutes and arguably sparked Detroit's biggest momentum shift. The moment came at the end of the second quarter when Jenkins connected on a half-court triple as time expired.

When the Hornets traded All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves in July, the move surprised many, even though the Hornets were coming off their best season in four years.

With Ball no longer on the team, it was a foregone conclusion that the Hornets were handing the franchise to Kon Knueppel, who finished second in Rookie of the Year voting after averaging 18.5 points on 42.5% shooting from beyond the arc. However, Knueppel has yet to make his season debut due to a hamstring injury.

With a 3-1 start, the Hornets have built on last season's momentum behind Brandon Miller. The four-year forward entered the game averaging a team-high 24.3 points and showed why the franchise recently reawarded him with a five-year, rookie-scale contract extension.

Miller scored 21 points (7-for-13 FG, 3-for-6 3pt) in the first half, leading the Hornets to a 51-44 halftime lead. Miller's first-half performance helped Charlotte establish a once-12-point lead. During their first-half dominance, the Hornets shot 41.0% from the field, including six made 3-point field goals. Miller finished with 31 points and 12 rebounds, while former Pistons guard Dennis Schröder added 11 points.

Observations and notes

— Isaiah Joe nearing a return: Isaiah Joe missed his second straight game with a right hip contusion he sustained against the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday night, but the veteran wing appears to be inching back into the lineup. Before the game against the Hornets, Joe participated in his usual pre-game warm-up before being ruled out.

— Injury scare for Cunningham: The Pistons have struggled with injuries through the first week of the regular season, and Cade Cunningham had a scare against the Hornets. At the 7:52 mark of the second quarter, Cunningham appeared to have bumped knees with Hornets forward Sion James.

After the contact, Cunningham winced for a few seconds before resuming play. This marked the second consecutive game the All-NBA guard bumped knees with an opponent. The same thing happened during the third quarter of Tuesday's loss to the Knicks.

— B-Ball Paul for 3: Although Robinson has received credit for the Pistons' 3-point shooting success, Paul Reed has quietly been just as impressive. Reed finished the night shooting 2 for 2 from behind the arc. He is now shooting 5 for 5 through the first five games of the season.