Pistons' Cunningham scores 33 points vs. Wizards, snaps eight-game losing skid

For the last eight games, the Pistons have faced teams currently positioned to qualify for the postseason. The outcome was the same after every contest — another loss.

On Friday, the Pistons traveled to the nation's capital to match up against the Washington Wizards, a team that entered the meeting two games ahead of Detroit for the second-worst record in the NBA.

It was the fourth and deciding game of the season series between the league's two worst teams and the Pistons desperately needed a win. They succeeded.

The Pistons (13-61) snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating the Wizards, 96-87, at Capital One Arena.

It was a game in which the Pistons led by as many as 19 points at halftime, but the Wizards rallied in the second half and took a one-point lead with 10 minutes remaining. It was their final lead of the game because Detroit's tandem of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren swapped baskets to give their team back the advantage.

Cunningham was at the center of a 7-0 run midway through the fourth quarter, which allowed Detroit to gain the separation needed to claim its 13th win of the season. The third-year guard drove baseline and found Duren for an explosive dunk. He then converted on a 3-point play by making a three-foot shot over Corey Kispert. Cunningham also had an emphatic block on Wizards guard Jordan Poole, which led to another dunk by Duren.

BOX SCORE: Pistons 96, Wizards 87

Cunningham totaled 33 points with eight rebounds and seven assists. Duren compiled a double-double of 20 points and 17 rebounds. Pistons guard Jaden Ivey finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

"We needed this win," Cunningham told Greg Kelser and George Blaha of Bally Sports. "I'm happy with it. Coming out the half, we let it slip a little bit, but to pull it out, we needed it."

Washington was led by Kispert, who scored 23 points and six rebounds. Deni Avdija flirted with a triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and nine rebounds. Former Pistons big man Marvin Bagley III finished with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds on 7-of-9 field goals. Flint native Kyle Kuzma had 12 points and eight rebounds. Poole was limited to seven points and struggled with a 3-of-15 shooting night.

After finishing with a 1-2 record on their three-game road trip, the Pistons will return home to host the Memphis Grizzles on Monday.

mcurtis@detroitnews.com

@MikeACurtis2