Unbearable! Curry exits with 23 points due to injury; Cunningham and Duren both achieve double-doubles; Warriors lose to Pistons despite eight players scoring in double figures.

On January 31st Beijing time, in an NBA regular season matchup, the Warriors played at home against the Pistons. The Pistons executed fluid offense in the first half. Curry suffered a knee injury late in the third quarter and had to leave, leaving the Warriors without their key player. The Pistons kept their advantage, and despite a vigorous Warriors rally in the last quarter, they were unable to overcome their opponents. The Pistons won 131-124 at the final buzzer.

Statistics:

Pistons: Cunningham with 29 points and 11 assists, Duren with 21 points and 13 rebounds, Harris 15 points, Robinson 15 points, Stewart 14 points, Jenkins 12 points.

Warriors: Curry scored 23 points, Moody 11 points, Green contributed 15 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, Horford 13 points, Pojemski had 11 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, Santos 16 points, Melton 18 points, Hield 10 points.

Game progress:

At the start of the first quarter, both teams had high shooting percentages. The Warriors took an early lead, but the Pistons quickly tied it at 14-14, with Dunlo’s three-pointer giving them the lead. The Pistons then went on a 10-2 run to increase the gap, but Green’s three-pointer stopped the bleeding. The Pistons added 4 more points to extend their lead, while the Warriors responded with steady scoring, narrowing the deficit to 3 points. However, late in the quarter, the Pistons exploded with an 8-0 run to push the lead into double digits. The Warriors ended the quarter with Melton completing a 2+1 play. After the first quarter, the Pistons led 45-37 by 8 points.

In the second quarter, the Pistons started with a 9-3 run to widen the gap again, with Green hitting another three-pointer to halt the Warriors’ momentum. The game became tightly contested, with the Pistons maintaining about a 9-point lead. Midway through the quarter, the Pistons surged again as Duren drew a foul and made two free throws, pushing the lead back to double digits. Cunningham and Harris scored consecutively, establishing a 14-point advantage. The Pistons recorded 22 assists in the half, showcasing very smooth offense. Both teams exchanged points afterward, and at halftime, the Pistons led 77-64 by 13 points.

In the third quarter, the Pistons continued their strong start with a 9-2 run, extending their lead to 20 points. Horford’s floater finally halted the Warriors’ slump, but Cunningham responded with a floater of his own, forcing a Warriors timeout. After the break, the Warriors transformed their play and went on a 13-2 run, cutting the deficit to under 10 points. Dunlo’s three-pointer helped the Pistons stabilize the situation. The two teams then engaged in a back-and-forth battle, with the Pistons maintaining around a 10-point lead. Near the end of the quarter, Curry injured his knee and left for the locker room, not returning for the remainder of the game. After three quarters, the Pistons led 108-95, still ahead by 13 points.

In the final quarter, it was confirmed that Curry would not return. Still, the Warriors opened with a 6-0 run, but Cunningham’s three-pointer stopped the bleeding and led the Pistons to a 7-0 reply. The Warriors fought back with a 13-2 run, narrowing the gap to 3 points and bringing suspense back to the game. Harris made two free throws to finally stop the Warriors’ momentum, followed by Osar drawing a foul and making one of two free throws, helping the Pistons regain control. The teams battled back and forth, and in the last two minutes, the Warriors got as close as 4 points. However, Pojemski missed a crucial three-pointer, and the Warriors’ fouling strategy to catch up failed. Ultimately, the Pistons defeated the Warriors 131-124.

Starting lineups for both teams:

Pistons: Osar, Harris, Duren, Robinson, Cunningham.

Warriors: Curry, Green, Moody, Horford, Pojemski.