Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) dunks the ball in front of Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Jaden Ivey scored 23 points and Cade Cunningham chipped in 22 as the Detroit Pistons earned their first win of the NBA season, defeating the host Philadelphia 76ers 105-95 on Wednesday.
Detroit’s Tobias Harris, who spent the previous 5 1/2 seasons with Philadelphia, contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds — both season highs. The Pistons, who had dropped their first four games, also received key contributions from Tim Hardaway Jr. (16 points), Malik Beasley (11 points) and Isaiah Stewart (seven points, 11 rebounds).
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Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 32 points, but he shot just 2 of 10 from 3-point range as part of a teamwide 8-of-28 effort (28.6 percent) from long distance. Kelly Oubre Jr. registered 13 points, while rookie Jared McCain notched 12 points for his first career double-digit scoring effort.
The 76ers remain without stars Joel Embiid and Paul George due to knee injuries.
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The Sixers led 13-4 in the early going en route to a 26-22 edge after one quarter. Maxey scored 10 points in the opening frame.
However, Detroit won the second quarter 32-19 behind Cunningham’s 13 points. Maxey opened the period with a dunk before the visitors scored 15 straight points, a span that included two 3-pointers by Cunningham and one by Beasley.
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With just under five minutes left in the half, Philadelphia clawed within 39-38. That momentum did not last long, however, as back-to-back 3-pointers by Hardaway and Ivey pushed the lead to seven, and the Pistons went into the break up 54-45.
About four minutes into the third quarter, Cunningham and Hardaway knocked down 3-pointers around a layup by Harris to push the lead to 69-54.
Detroit’s advantage swelled to as many as 21 when Beasley’s 3-pointer made it 79-58 with 3:19 left in the third period.
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In the fourth quarter, Caleb Martin’s jumper got the hosts within 91-79 with just under seven minutes left. On the next Detroit possession, Stewart corralled a miss by Harris and found Hardaway for a 3-pointer that restored a 15-point advantage. –Field Level Media