On a bad day for Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green, the shooting inside Toyota Center was nearly as frigid as Houston’s snowy weather outside.

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, right, drives into Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Houston.

Behind an All-Star performance from Cade Cunningham, the Pistons began their five-game road trip with a win over the Rockets.

The Rockets stayed above .500 thanks largely to Fred VanVleet, who had 12 fourth-quarter points and made crucial plays late to thwart Detroit’s upset bid.

For a third consecutive game, Fred VanVleet was ruled out due to knee soreness, while the team announced that OG Anunoby would miss the next two weeks of action to allow his fractured right ring ...