Cade Cunningham leads Pistons past Warriors 131-124 with 29 points, 11 assists

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 29 points and 11 assists and the Detroit Pistons jumped to a big lead early before holding off the Golden State Warriors for a 131-124 win Friday night.

Stephen Curry scored 23 points for his fourth straight 20-point performance before exiting with right knee soreness. Draymond Green had 15 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and his 10th technical.

Gui Santos' 3-pointer with 6:56 remaining pulled the Warriors within 117-112 and Buddy Hield's layup at 6:19 made it a three-point game. Santos matched his season high with 16 points.

The Pistons' 77 first-half points were the most allowed by Golden State in any half this season. But the Warriors rallied back in their typical third-quarter fashion to cut a 20-point deficit to single digits — yet 18 turnovers proved costly leading to 31 points for the Pistons.

Jalen Duren had 21 points and 13 rebounds and Duncan Robinson added 15 points as Detroit completed a road back-to-back. The Pistons shot 76% (19 of 25) in the opening quarter. They have won seven of nine after a 114-96 defeat Thursday at Phoenix.

Curry, regularly smothered and held by Ausar Thompson, shot 7 for 16 over three quarters as the Warriors returned from a four-game road trip that would have been five but for a postponement in Minneapolis on Jan. 24.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr said center Al Horford will remain a starter for the Warriors — this was his fourth start — and the big man had 13 points and seven rebounds.

Just 55 seconds into the game, Green fell into the courtside seats along a sideline — coming back to fist bump everybody he'd fallen upon.

Green reached 8,000 career points midway through the first quarter, and moved past Joe Fulks (8,003) for 16th place on the franchise all-time scoring list. He also joined Curry and Klay Thompson as the only Warriors with 800 or more 3-pointers.

Pistons: Host the Nets on Sunday.

Warriors: Host the 76ers on Tuesday night.

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Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) shoots against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) dunks against Golden State Warriors center Al Horford (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after scoring during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in San Francisco, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is double teamed by the Detroit Pistons in the first half of an NBA game in San Francisco, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, right, looks to pass the ball against Golden State Warriors center Al Horford, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Former Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is heading east to run the defense for Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers hired Graham on Friday to take over a highly paid, if occasionally erratic defense as Pittsburgh hits reset following Mike Tomlin's departure earlier this month after 19 seasons as head coach.

Graham spent the last four years with the Raiders. The defense steadily improved during Graham's tenure. Las Vegas finished 28th in yards allowed during his first season in 2022 but finished 15th in 2023 and 2024 and nudged up to 14th in 2025.

Pittsburgh is Graham's fourth stop as a defensive coordinator. He previously worked in that position for the Miami Dolphins in 2019 and the New York Giants in 2020 and 2021.

The Steelers won the AFC North this season, but the defense led by defensive tackle Cam Heyward, outside linebacker T.J. Watt and defensive back Jalen Ramsey struggled getting stops at times. Pittsburgh finished 26th in yards allowed, its lowest ranking in that category since 1988, though the unit also produced 29 takeaways, tied for third in the league.

McCarthy, who was officially named as Tomlin's replacement on Tuesday, pledged to keep the 3-4 defensive alignment that has been the team's calling card for over 30 years.

While Heyward, Watt and Ramsey are all in their 30s, the Steelers do have a promising core of young talent led by rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon and third-year outside linebacker Nick Herbig.

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FILE - Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham speaks with the media following practice at NFL football training camp, July 25, 2024, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/John McCoy, File)