Alex Caruso among absentees as Pistons beat Thunder 124-116

Detroit defeated Oklahoma City 124-116 in a game that mattered because the Thunder were missing much of their rotation, with alex caruso listed as out among several absentees. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren led the Pistons while Oklahoma City’s second- and third-string players pushed early before the Pistons pulled away.

Alex Caruso listed among absentees

The Thunder entered the game missing a long list of rotation players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Willians, Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, and Ajay Mitchell were all listed as out. With those names absent, Oklahoma City’s bench and lesser-used players started fast, and seven different Thunder players scored in the first quarter.

Cunningham and Duren take over

Detroit trailed early — Oklahoma City led 17-16 halfway through the first — but the Pistons responded as Jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham steered the comeback. Duren was active from the start, logging heavy field-goal attempts and compiling eight points and three rebounds early before finishing the first half with 18 points and seven rebounds. Detroit finished the second quarter on a 10-2 run to carry a 58-52 halftime lead.

Cade provided momentum plays in the third, including a chase-down block that helped trigger a transition bucket by Duncan Robinson and push Detroit’s lead into double digits. Newly acquired Kevin Huerter received some minutes before the quarter ended, and the Pistons maintained control into the fourth.

Late Thunder rally falls short

Oklahoma City clawed back in the fourth behind heavy outside shooting. Jaylin Williams attempted 10 three-pointers and finished with a career-high 30 points as the Thunder shot 18-for-49 from distance; the team’s 49 attempts contrasted with Detroit’s season-high 43 attempts from deep. With 5: 30 remaining, an 11-2 run made it a five-point game, but Detroit held on and closed out the 124-116 victory.

Guards Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace and Jarden McCain each reached at least 20 points in the comeback effort. Still, Cade repeatedly attacked Oklahoma City’s defense in the fourth to keep the lead just out of reach. Even with alex caruso and other regulars unavailable, the Thunder’s depth showed in stretches but could not sustain the run needed to overtake Detroit.

• Final score: Pistons 124, Thunder 116.
• Notable absences included Alex Caruso and several other rotation players, creating heavy minutes for Oklahoma City’s understudies.
• Jalen Duren led Detroit inside; Jaylin Williams posted a career-high 30 for Oklahoma City.