Pistons Defeat Hornets 97-89 as Charlotte Commits 25 Turnovers

Detroit Pistons Defeat Charlotte Hornets 97-89 as Turnovers Cost the Visitors

The Detroit Pistons defeated the Charlotte Hornets 97-89 on Wednesday night, snapping Charlotte’s two-game winning streak in a physical matchup at the Motor City. The Hornets squandered a seven-point halftime lead by committing 25 turnovers and managing just 38 points in the second half.

Brandon Miller led all players with 31 points and 12 rebounds for Charlotte, marking his third-straight 30-point game. Despite Miller’s offensive output, the Hornets struggled to find a secondary scorer as the Pistons erased their deficit with a 32-19 third-quarter push.

The Turning Point: Turnovers and Third-Quarter Struggles

For the first 24 minutes, the Hornets matched Detroit’s physical intensity and maintained a seven-point advantage at the break. That composure vanished after intermission. The Pistons’ defense forced Charlotte into 25 total turnovers for the game, compared to just 14 for Detroit, while limiting the Hornets to 38 second-half points.

Duncan Robinson and Paul Reed each knocked down a pair of three-pointers during the decisive third-quarter surge that put Detroit ahead for good. Cade Cunningham paced the Pistons with 30 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals.

Roster Notes and Player Performances

The Hornets played without Coby White, Kon Knueppel, and Grant Williams, while the Pistons were missing Isaiah Joe and Jalen Duren. Dennis Schroder provided secondary scoring for Charlotte with 14 points, five assists, and four rebounds.

Pistons Defeat Hornets 97-89 as Charlotte Commits 25 Turnovers

A notable rotation decision occurred at halftime regarding Naz Reid, who tallied seven points and six rebounds in the first half but did not play after the break. Charles Lee addressed the decision post-game, stating, Unfortunately, Naz (Reid) didn’t meet our standards in the first half, and at halftime we made the decision that he wouldn’t play in the second half. But I look forward to him meeting those standards come next game.

Looking Ahead to the NBA Cup

With the loss, Charlotte dropped its record to 3-2 on the early season. The Hornets will travel to Washington, D.C., on Friday to face the Washington Wizards in an NBA Cup matchup and a rematch of Monday’s contest.