76ers Beat Pistons 112-106 Behind Cunningham Rally
Philadelphia avenged its only loss of the season, a home defeat to Detroit in October, with a road win at Little Caesars Arena.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Detroit Pistons 112-106 on Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena, improving to 8-1 on the season. Detroit rallied from a 17-point deficit to make the game close late before falling short.
Why it matters
The win extends Philadelphia's strong start and avenges its only loss of the season, a home defeat to Detroit in October. It also gives the 76ers a 4-0 record on the road.
Duncan Robinson scored 27 points on seven 3-pointers, while Cade Cunningham posted 26 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds for Detroit. LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to make 16,000 field goals, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
The players
LeBron James
Los Angeles Lakers forward and one of the NBA's most decorated players, who became the first player in league history to make 16,000 field goals.
Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers center and multiple-time All-Star who scored 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the win.
Cade Cunningham
Detroit Pistons guard and franchise cornerstone who finished with 26 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in the loss.
Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics-era All-Star guard who scored a season-high 30 points for Philadelphia and made the key late block on Cunningham.
The details
Detroit trailed by 17 points before storming back to make the game close late in the fourth quarter. Jaylen Brown blocked a Cunningham attempt with 37 seconds left to keep the Pistons from cutting the lead to three, and Joel Embiid added 26 points and 15 rebounds for Philadelphia.
Timeline
October: Detroit beat Philadelphia at home, the 76ers' only loss of the season at that point.
Wednesday: The 76ers defeated the Pistons 112-106 at Little Caesars Arena.
Friday: The 76ers visit the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Sunday: The Pistons host the Los Angeles Lakers.
Season Trajectory
Philadelphia's 8-1 start and perfect 4-0 road mark position it as an early Eastern Conference contender with a strong early-season résumé. Detroit's near-comeback shows a young core capable of competing with top teams, though the loss keeps its record below the league's upper tier.
Fantasy managers tracking Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson will see the Pistons' late-game usage and scoring output as useful signals. Philadelphia's Embiid and Brown remain strong options given their production in this win.
The takeaway
Early-season road wins against division rivals often reveal how a team handles late-game pressure, and Philadelphia's ability to close out Detroit is a useful marker of its contention level.
What happens next
Philadelphia visits the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, and Detroit hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
Further reading
Explore more NBA basketball coverage for the latest standings and game recaps.
