So far in this 2025-26 NBA season, a lot of talk has centered on the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder and their 17-1 start. But there’s one team out East who’s doing just as well and is riding high on a massive and mighty 13-game winning run, currently the longest in the league. That team, of course, is the Detroit Pistons, and yet, for all the winning they’ve accomplished, few seem to be talking about them the way they do the Thunder.
But maybe, just maybe, it’s time to start talking about the Pistons as a budding force in a championship landscape littered with too many pretenders and too few real contenders. The Thunder are at the top of the mountain, obviously, and everybody else is trying to climb up. The Pistons are out there somewhere, climbing quietly and potentially building the foundations of a true contender.
By the Numbers: How the Pistons Stack Up vs. Thunder
Surprisingly, the Pistons aren’t too far behind the Thunder as far as stats are concerned. OKC scores more — 122.6 points per game — compared to Detroit’s 119.5, but most of the counting stats are even between these two teams. In fact, the Pistons are even ahead of the Thunder in some categories, notably rebounding (45.9 to 45.5), assists (27.1 to 26.6), blocks (6.1 to 5.6), and field goal percentage (48.9 to 48.7).
The Thunder, though, are dominating on defense and have a clear advantage here, holding opponents to an average of 105.7 while the Pistons give up 112.6. OKC’s defense is simply in a league of its own and is a big reason it is posting a massive +16.9 point differential. Detroit’s defense isn’t too shabby as it is fourth in the league in fewest points allowed and has helped the Eastern Conference leader post a +7 point differential. But it isn’t on the level of the Thunder’s smothering D just yet.
Are the Thunder Benefiting from an ‘Easier’ Schedule?
It certainly seems so. The Thunder have had by far the easiest schedule according to strength of schedule computations. In its first 18 games, OKC’s strength of schedule was a mere 41.8%, with 12 games against teams that didn’t make the playoffs last season. In contrast, the Pistons’ strength of schedule over that span was 49.2%, with seven games against non-playoff teams.
Regardless, it isn’t the Thunder’s fault that their schedule has been relatively easy, and they deserve credit for rolling over the opposition, no matter who’s in front of them. But the Pistons should get their due credit, too, for doing the same, although they still have to prove that they can win when the spotlight gets brighter and brighter.
Cade Cunningham: Detroit’s Very Own SGA
OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needs no introduction. He’s the reigning regular-season and Finals MVP, and he’s once again leading the charge for the Thunder. The Pistons, to a certain level, have their own SGA in Cade Cunningham, who seems to have elevated his game even more after his star turn last season.
As of press time, Cunningham is posting career bests in scoring (27.1), assists (9.6), and steals (1.3) on top of 6.0 rebounds and nearly a block a game. His shooting seems to have regressed a little from last season, but he has looked every bit the superstar Gilgeous-Alexander is and has been leading Detroit to win after win after win.
But things are about to get tougher from here on out for Cunningham and his Pistons — and it will be interesting to see how they’ll respond. If they can continue piling up wins, then people won’t have a choice but to talk about the Pistons as possibly emerging as a contender. In the meantime, look for them to continue their workmanlike domination.
