Cade Cunningham connects with Jaylen Duren for a dunk
The Detroit Pistons they continue to find flashes of brilliance in the season so far, and the bond between their two cornerstones was on full display Friday night.
During a heated third quarter against the Houston Rockets, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren provided game of the night, reminding fans why the future in the Motor City is still promising.
Cade Cunningham LOB to Jalen Duren inbounds 🤯
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 24, 2026
With 8:45 left in the period and the Pistons looking to start a run, Cunningham took the ball out of bounds. As the Rockets defense focused on the perimeter, shooting guard Duncan Robinson set a screen that left Duren completely unattended in the paint. Cunningham, ever the floor general, didn’t hesitate, lofting a perfect lob that Duren fired home for a thunderous slam.
The chemistry between Total choice no. 1 for 2021 and its young center was one of the few bright spots in a game where Houston’s firepower eventually took over.
Cunningham finished the contest with 12 points and 8 assists, constantly finding ways to break down the Rockets’ interior defense. Meanwhile, Duren dominated the glass, with 7 rebounds and 18 points.
Despite the highlight-reel connection, the Pistons have struggled to contain Kevin Durant. The veteran forward proved why he remains one of the league’s deadliest scorers, pouring in 32 points on an efficient 11-of-19 shooting to lead the Houston Rockets to a 111-104 victory.
It’s a loss for Detroit another class in the developmental year. However, the Cunningham-to-Duren connection remains a vital impetus for the franchise. If the Pistons can continue to surround their duo with a true veteran presence like the floor spacing provided by Robinson, those high-stakes dunks will eventually start to translate into more results in the win column.
2026-01-24 03:12:00
