Something odd happened in Washington on Sunday evening. The Detroit Pistons won … easily. Behind its young, dynamic backcourt, the Pistons coasted to a 124-104 victory over the Washington Wizards and led by around 20 points for most of the final 1.5 quarters. After seven straight games that qualified as nail-biters, it was a welcome change of pace.

Cade Cunningham secured another triple-double as the Pistons scored their most points of the season so far. Cunningham finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and added five steals. Ivey scored a game-high 28 points and had eight assists.

Ivey was the star of the game and seemed to be in total control throughout. He was using his burst to blow past defenders, he could slow things up to create open looks for himself or others, and when the clock was running out, he could calmly find a gap in the defense and find space for an open perimeter. shot.

Ivey scored a buzzer-beating bucket at the end of the first and second quarters, and added another on a tough drive to the basket with contact with 1.8 seconds left in the third. It was just that kind of night for Ivey. It was beautiful to see.

Cunningham wasn’t as dynamic a scorer as Ivey, but his ability to be engaged on the defensive end and his enthusiasm for fighting through the bigs for a rebound while also having so much of the offensive responsibility on his back has helped Detroit compete night in and night out.

Now, it’s finally starting to lead to some wins, and for the first time all season, a comfortable win at that.

The Pistons didn’t seem like they would let themselves off easy in this one. They could effortlessly execute on the offensive end and build up a 10- to 12-point lead, but then suddenly, the Wizards would hit a few shots, and the lead would dwindle to five.

Detroit was able to really put the game away by dominating the third quarter, mostly thanks to Ivey’s stellar play.

Jalen Duren had a double-double and was clearly overpowering second-overall pick Alexandre Sarr, but Duren again had to navigate foul trouble and was limited to just 18 minutes. Isaiah Stewart delivered his typical brand of excellent defense and added his second three-pointer of the season. Malik Beasley scored 26 points and hit six threes as a starter filling in for the injured Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Wizards were led by 22 points apiece from Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole.

The Pistons needed a less stressful win as they are traveling home to face the Chicago Bulls on Monday after three straight road games, including two that went to overtime. A win against the Bulls would bring the Pistons to 8-8 on the season.

Detroit hasn’t been .500 this late in the season since the 2018-19 season.

On Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Detroit Lions scored three rushing touchdowns… in the first half.

Including the playoffs, the Lions have now scored a rushing touchdown in 24 straight games, which is an NFL recording according to the league’s official Twitter account. If you’re wondering which game that streak goes back to, it’s the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game back in October of 2023. You may remember that Jahmyr Gibbs missed that game with an injury, and David Montgomery left it early with a mid-game injury.

That Lions rushing duo has been dominant since. This season alone, Gibbs and Montgomery have combined for 18 rushing touchdowns in 9.5 games—both of them ranking in the top five across the league in rushing touchdowns.

The duo known as “Sonic” and “Knuckles” are taking over the league, and have a strong case for best running back duo in the league, and best duo in Lions history.

Since the NFL adopted a 16-game schedule in 1978 (and went to 17 games in 2021), there have been 80 winning streaks of at least eight games in the league. The San Francisco 49ers have done it nine times. The New England Patriots, eight. Even the woeful Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday’s visitor to Ford Field, have done it once (an 11-gamer in 1999).

But not the Detroit Lions; the franchise’s longest run over that span is seven games, achieved in 1995 and then again this season.

Of course, that could change Sunday, as the 2-8 Jags arrive in town (1 p.m., CBS). Will the 8-1 Lions reach eight straight wins for the first time since the franchise’s first year in Detroit (when the Lions actually won their first 10 games)?

Four Free Press sports writers have some thoughts on their potential vs. the Jaguars.

Dave Birkett

Coaches can give all the lip service they want to this being the NFL, and not taking opponents for granted, and the other guys getting paid, too. The reality is, though, the Lions might be the best team in the NFL, and the Jaguars might be the worst.

The Jaguars have played several close games, including against the Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles the past three weeks, but they also are starting a backup quarterback and were blown out on the road by the best offense they faced (the Buffalo Bills). If the protection is there, Jared Goff should have a big day and the defense seems poised for another few takeaways in a game that should be over by the third quarter. The pick: Lions 38, Jaguars 17.

Carlos Monarrez

After going through the details of Jacksonville’s season, I figured it out. The 2-8 Jaguars stink. And that was even with Trevor Lawrence, who will miss this game. Though “miss” might be the wrong word. This will come down to how easy Dan Campbell wants to make it on owner Shad Khan to fire Doug Pederson during the upcoming bye week. Penei Sewell will catch a touchdown pass, the Lions’ defense will pick off Mac Jones three times and Pederson will get his walking papers on Monday. The pick: Lions 36, Jaguars 13

Jeff Seidel

This is one of those games where what the Lions do in trying to clean up mistakes will be more important than the final score. Because the Lions will win this game. There’s little doubt about that. But I think they will concentrate on putting together long, sustained drives, trying to get their offensive rhythm back, trying to find consistency. Which might hold down the score a little. The pick: Lions 28, Jaguars 10

Shawn Windsor

The Lions haven’t put two good offensive halves together in a while, and though Jacksonville has a good front and a feisty defense, Ben Johnson and company are keen on getting more from the offense. Here’s betting they do. Meanwhile, the defense keeps rolling and takes advantage of Trevor Lawrence’s absence. The pick: Lions 31, Jaguars 16.