In a nail-biting matchup that went down to the wire, the Detroit Pistons edged out the Washington Wizards 137-135 in overtime on November 10, showcasing the kind of high-octane basketball that's keeping fans glued to their seats. Cade Cunningham was the undisputed star, dropping a career-high 46 points on 14-of-45 shooting, along with 12 rebounds and 11 assists—nearly a triple-double in a game that demanded everything from the young guard. But let's be real, that shot volume was sky-high; it worked this time, but efficiency might be the next hurdle for Detroit's rising talent.
Daniss Jenkins came off the bench firing, notching a season-high 24 points, including the crucial three that forced OT and kept the Pistons' 9-2 record intact. Jalen Duren chipped in 19 points and 14 boards, anchoring the paint. On the Wizards' side, CJ McCollum poured in 42 points on efficient 14-of-25 shooting, but late misses sealed their ninth straight loss, dropping them to a dismal 1-10. Cam Whitmore added 20, while Alex Sarr grabbed a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds—bright spots in an otherwise frustrating night for Washington.
Meanwhile, across the league, the Orlando Magic pulled off their own dramatic finish, beating the Portland Trail Blazers 115-112 on a buzzer-beating three from Desmond Bane, who finished with 22 points and seven assists. Jerami Grant led Portland with 17 points, but Jrue Holiday's 27 couldn't quite carry them over the hump in a game that highlighted both teams' resilience.
These back-to-forth battles remind us how unpredictable the NBA can be this early in the season—what might the rest of the road hold for these squads?
