Pistons 124-116 Thunder (Feb 25, 2026) Game Recap — pistons win over short-handed Thunder
The pistons closed out a 124-116 game against a short-handed Thunder on Feb. 25, 2026, with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren leading the way. This recap draws on the matchup notes, projected lineups and the latest injury and strategic comments released for the OKC at Detroit game.
Game recap and key players
The box score in the provided coverage lists a 124-116 final. The play-by-play context focused on how Detroit matched up against a Thunder squad on a back-to-back, and how that scheduling and personnel picture shaped matchups for Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and others.
Pistons projected starters and matchups
Projected starters for Detroit were listed as Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren. The notes emphasized the Pistons moving from facing the No. 3 defense in the Spurs to the No. 1 defense in OKC, and that Detroit had a 1-5 record when they didn’t score more than 103.
Thunder projected starters and status
Oklahoma City’s projected starters were Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams. The Thunder were identified as ranking first in paint defense and forcing many turnovers, and they arrived on a B2B (back-to-back).
Injury report and suspensions
The injury report line in the context listed Isaiah Stewart as (O, suspension). Chet Holmgren received a Q tag the prior night and could miss the game. The notes said, "Assuming Isaiah Hartenstein is out, " which would alter matchup dynamics. The original notes concluded with the incomplete line, "We’ll have the injury report for the show later, a" — the text ends there in the provided context.
Coach comments and media notes
One coaching/media note stated that an interview upload error occurred: OKC uploaded a Cason interview twice instead of Daigneault. Bickerstaff was paraphrased as saying he thought Ron Holland II was playing well and that he played Holland over Ausar Thompson, that he thought they did a good job on "Wemby, " and that the majority of their threes were open.
Stats, matchup detail and lineup effects
The notes called Oklahoma City’s offense inconsistent, describing "two duds in their last three (not counting last night), " and said OKC would face a tough test against the No. 2 defense in the NBA. The Thunder’s paint pressure was described as only OK against an elite paint defense. It was suggested OKC might sit more guys on a B2B.
Cason Wallace’s recent role was highlighted: he spiked with 10 dimes on 14 potentials and drove it 15 times on Sunday. The matchup was flagged as not one to attack, particularly on a B2B, and it was noted Wallace may see Ausar Thompson defending him.
On potential absences: if Chet Holmgren is out and Isaiah Hartenstein does not play, Jaylin Williams was described as having a good opportunity despite the matchup being called "brutal. " Cade Cunningham was described as getting a terrible matchup at times, with a specific reference to being clamped by Stephon Castle and going just 2-of-12 on his drives in that prior game. Even if Hartenstein sits and Holmgren misses, Lu Dort was still cited as a difficult defensive matchup for Cunningham.
Jalen Duren’s matchup was said to be "very much up in the air. " The notes stated that if Isaiah Hartenstein suits up it would set up much better for Duren, that the Thunder have been worse on the boards without "iHart, " and that the Thunder may be a bit smaller overall. The absence of Chet Holmgren was noted as making it easier to score around the basket.
The broader slate context included the line that "all but one of the six games have at least one team that played last night, and the one that doesn’t has two teams on the front end, " with the listed slate: OKC @ DET | SAS @ TOR | GSW @ MEM | SAC @ HOU | CLE @ MIL | BOS @ DEN. Team totals for the OKC at Detroit game were given as Thunder 106. 5 and Pistons 114.
Separately, the provided materials included a promotional line: "The 2026 Golf Season is Underway. " It also listed Mike Gallagher with the date Feb 25, 2026, and named Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown alongside mentions of NBA Full Stat Projections, NBA In-Season, NBA Matchups and NBA Props. The materials offered access to NBA DFS player projections, Mike Gallagher’s NBA Matchups column, NBA Top Plays and live shows, daily draft rankings and more through an "NBA In-Season" package.
One additional content item in the provided materials noted that a news site advised readers that their browser was not supported and asked users to download a modern browser to ensure the best experience, saying the site was built to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use.
Closing: The supplied coverage tied the 124-116 final to the matchup context, injury questions and projected starters, with multiple notes about how back-to-back scheduling and possible absences like Chet Holmgren or Isaiah Hartenstein could shape individual matchups for Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
