Will Riley scored 20 points, Sharife Cooper added 18 and the Washington Wizards upset the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons 126-117 on Thursday night.
Lakers Wizards Basketball Washington Wizards guard Will Riley (27) in action during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Bub Carrington, Duncan Robinson Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) is held by Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson, left, while trying to go to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
AP Photo/Duane Burleson
Wizards Pistons Basketball Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr (20) takes a shot over Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
AP Photo/Duane Burleson
Kyshawn George, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) is guarded by Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson, left, and guard Ausar Thompson (9) while trying to take a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
AP Photo/Duane Burleson
Wizards Pistons Basketball Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) drives against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
DETROIT (AP) — Will Riley scored 20 points, Sharife Cooper added 18 and the Washington Wizards upset the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons 126-117 on Thursday night.
The Wizards only dressed 10 players — Cooper was one of three on two-way contracts — a day after a trade with the Dallas Mavericks, but beat a Pistons team that had won five of six. The Wizards improved to 14-36, while Pistons fell to 37-13.
Justin Champagnie and Tristan Vukcevic each scored 14 points for Washington, which has won four of six since a nine-game losing streak. The Wizards got 69 points from their reserves.
Cade Cunningham had 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Pistons, who went 9 for 33 (27.3%) on 3-pointers. All-Star center Jalen Duren had four points and three rebounds in 13 minutes left before leaving game with knee soreness.
After trailing by 17 in the third quarter, the Pistons cut it to 112-107 on Duncan Robinson’s 4-point play with 4:15 to go. Bilal Coulibay banked in a 3-point shot as the shot clock expired to make it 117-110, and Detroit couldn’t get enough stops.
