MEXICO CITY (AP) — Jalen Duren had a career high 33 points and also pulled down 10 rebounds, Cade Cunningham added 21 points with 18 assists and the Detroit Pistons pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Dallas Mavericks 122-110 in Mexico City on Saturday night.
Duncan Robinson added 18 points and Ausar Thompson had 15 for the Pistons, who won their second game in a row.
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Dallas Mavericks guard D'Angelo Russell challenges Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, center, goes to the basket against Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, right, scores past Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington Jr., left, and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren fight for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
“I just wanted to get the win, coach had a great game plan and my teammates found me and the rest is history,” said Duren.
Cunningham's 18 assists were a career high.
“It is cool, super cool, the coaching staff put me in great position, and my teammates helped me, to do it our here was cool,” said Cunningham. “The win is important, we are continuing to grow and it is important to represent the Pistons organization, we wanted to make sure to handle our business.”
D’Angelo Russell came off the bench to score 31 points while first overall pick Cooper Flagg scored a season high 16 points on 3-for-14 shooting for the Mavericks.
The Mavericks led 93-87 after three quarters but were outscored 35-17 in the fourth.
Dallas played without forward Anthony Davis, who is expected to miss two games with left leg injury sustained on Wednesday against Indiana.
“They dominated us in the paint, give them credit, they were good in the fourth quarter,” said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. “It is hard to win in this league, it is not an excuse, you have to play with the guys that you have.”
It was the 15th regular-season game played in Mexico City, and it was the fourth for the Mavericks, more than any other franchise. The Phoenix Suns and the Orlando Magic have played in Mexico City three times each.
Pistons: At Memphis on Monday night.
Mavericks: At Houston on Monday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Dallas Mavericks guard D'Angelo Russell challenges Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, center, goes to the basket against Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, right, scores past Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington Jr., left, and Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren fight for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
There was a 14-point comeback win by Atlanta in New York, and a 19-point comeback win by Minnesota in Denver.
And it's unanimous: Victor Wembanyama is pretty good at defense.
Monday had some drama, and the NBA playoffs already seem to be in full swing. Through the first three days, three lower-seeded teams have already stolen home-court advantage away — Orlando did it in Detroit on Sunday, and then the Hawks and Timberwolves did the same on Monday.
Tuesday's schedule features three games: Philadelphia at Boston, Portland at San Antonio — where Wembanyama will be announced as Defensive Player of the Year for the first time — and Houston at the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics, Spurs and Lakers all lead those series 1-0.
— Cavaliers 115, Raptors 105 to take 2-0 series lead. Cleveland's Big 3 scores 83.
— Hawks 107, Knicks 106 to tie series 1-1. CJ McCollum got the last word at MSG.
— Timberwolves 119, Nuggets 114 to tie series 1-1. Jaden McDaniels had thoughts.
— Warriors bracing for Kerr's possible departure
— NBA individual awards finalists are announced
— Some news and notes going into the postseason
— Playoff preview: Thunder seeking another title
— Heat equipment manager needs organ transplants
— Natalie Sago the 3rd female ref picked for playoffs
— The view from Vegas says the West is the best
Awards season in the NBA started Monday with some history — At 22, San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama is the youngest Defensive Player of the Year, and the first to win the award in a unanimous vote.
The finalists were unveiled Sunday night, led by the top three in the MVP voting — reigning winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City, three-time winner Nikola Jokic of Denver and Wembanyama, a first-time finalist.
The schedule for announcements:
— Tuesday, Clutch Player (6 p.m. EDT, Peacock/NBCSN). Finalists: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City; Jamal Murray, Denver.
— Wednesday, Sixth Man (6 p.m. EDT, ESPN). Finalists: Tim Hardaway Jr., Denver; Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami; Keldon Johnson, San Antonio.
— Thursday, Sportsmanship Award (Noon EDT, https://x.com/NBAPR).
— Friday, Most Improved Player (6:30 p.m. EDT, Prime). Finalists: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta; Deni Avdija, Portland; Jalen Duren, Detroit.
And the announcements that won’t be until next week, at the earliest:
— MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City; Nikola Jokic, Denver; Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio.
— Coach of the Year: J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit; Mitch Johnson, San Antonio; Joe Mazzulla, Boston.
— Rookie of the Year: VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia; Cooper Flagg, Dallas; Kon Knueppel, Charlotte.
7 p.m. EDT — Game 2, Philadelphia at Boston (Peacock/NBCSN)
8 p.m. EDT — Game 2, Portland at San Antonio (NBC/Peacock)
10:30 p.m. EDT — Game 2, Houston at LA Lakers (NBC/Peacock)
7 p.m. EDT — Game 2, Orlando at Detroit (ESPN)
9:30 p.m. EDT — Game 2, Phoenix at Oklahoma City (ESPN)
7 p.m. EDT — Game 3, New York at Atlanta (Prime Video)
8 p.m. EDT — Game 3, Cleveland at Toronto (Prime Video)
9:30 p.m. EDT — Game 3, Denver at Minnesota (Prime Video)
Defending champion Oklahoma City (+110) is favored to win the NBA title, according to oddsmakers.
The Thunder are followed by San Antonio (+475), Boston (+600), Denver (+1200), Cleveland (+1400), Detroit (+2200) and New York (+3000).
— May 2, 3 or 4: Conference semifinals begin.
— May 10: NBA draft lottery.
— May 10-17: NBA draft combine.
— May 17 or 19: Eastern Conference finals begin on ESPN and ABC.
— May 18 or 20: Western Conference finals begin on NBC and Peacock.
— June 3: Game 1, NBA Finals on ABC. (Other finals dates: June 5, June 8, June 10, June 13, June 16 and June 19).
— June 23: Round 1, NBA draft
— June 24: Round 2, NBA draft
— “It felt like that was it. It really felt like that was it. Is it? I don’t know. Like I said, I hope not. But for some reason, it just felt like that was it. And man, if it was, what a run it’s been.” — Draymond Green, speaking on the future of Golden State coach Steve Kerr, on “The Draymond Green Show.”
— "I ain't no villain.” — Hawks guard CJ McCollum, after fans in New York booed him throughout Game 2 of Atlanta's win in that series.
— Over the last 30 years, Denver is 34-2 in playoff games where it has built a lead of 18 or more points. The two losses are both against Minnesota — and both at home, too. The Wolves rallied from 20 down to win Game 7 of the West semifinals in 2024, then rallied from 19 down on Monday.
— Speaking of Wolves-Nuggets, the teams have gone 15-15 against one another in their last 30 games. Average score of those games: Wolves 113, Nuggets 111.
— Jamal Murray made a 51-foot 3-pointer for Denver on Monday night. It was the longest make in a playoff game since ... Jamal Murray made a 55-footer in 2024.
— Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell has scored 30 or more points in each of his last three playoff games, going back to last season. That's the longest-active streak among players in these playoffs.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives past Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, talks to his son guard Bronny James during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) and forward Tristan da Silva (23) celebrate after a win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry celebrates after scoring during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the against the Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) lies on the court during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer watches in the closing minutes of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game between the Clippers and the Golden State Warriors Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks to make a pass during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
