NEW YORK – Cade Cunningham delivered a performance for the ages at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, leading the Detroit Pistons to a commanding 126-111 victory over the New York Knicks. Cunningham finished with a game-high 42 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds, becoming the first visiting player to reach 40 points and 10 assists in the iconic arena since LeBron James accomplished the feat in 2009.
The Pistons (41-13) have now swept the regular-season series against the Knicks, winning all three matchups by an average of 28 points. Detroit never trailed in the game, establishing control early and maintaining a comfortable lead throughout.
“I’m lucky to have a team like this,” Cunningham said after the game. “I’m just glad we got this win… Great win for us.”
Paul Reed, starting in place of the suspended Jalen Duren, contributed 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Tobias Harris added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who are currently atop the Eastern Conference standings.
The Knicks (27-27) struggled mightily from beyond the arc, shooting a dismal 23% (8-of-35) from three-point range. Jalen Brunson led New York with 30 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Detroit’s dominance was evident from the start, as they outscored the Knicks 58-48 in the first half. The Pistons extended their lead in the third quarter and never looked back, ultimately securing a decisive victory.
Cunningham’s performance was particularly noteworthy, showcasing his all-around skill set and ability to control the game. He is now the only player in Pistons franchise history to record a 40+ point, 10+ assist, 5+ rebound, and 5+ three-pointer performance in a single game.
The win marked the Pistons’ third straight victory over the Knicks this season, a series that has clearly been one-sided. Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff downplayed any notion of extra motivation against New York, stating, “It’s just playing good basketball. This isn’t an ‘Us vs. Knicks’ thing. Our guys have done a great job all year approaching each game the same way.”
Elsewhere in the NBA:
Rockets Cool Hornets: Kevin Durant scored 35 points, including the Rockets’ final 10, to lift Houston to a 105-101 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Grant Williams led the Hornets with a season-high 20 points. Durant noted, “I think we won this game really at the end of that 2nd quarter. They came out, hit us in the mouth… we weathered that storm.”
Clippers Edge Nuggets: Bennedict Mathurin matched his career-high with 38 points as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets 115-114. Kawhi Leonard added 23 points for the Clippers, who have been playing exceptionally well of late.
Spurs Continue Roll: The San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to seven games with a 121-94 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 20 points, while Victor Wembanyama contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds. Wembanyama also blocked five shots.
Cavaliers Stay Hot: Donovan Mitchell and James Harden led the way as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 112-84, extending their winning streak to a season-high six games. Mitchell scored 17 points, and Harden added 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Celtics Cruise Past Warriors: Payton Pritchard scored 26 points off the bench to lead the Boston Celtics to a 121-110 win over the Golden State Warriors. Jaylen Brown recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists in Kristaps Porziņģis’ Warriors debut.
Hawks Hold Off Sixers: Jalen Johnson scored 32 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 117-106 victory over the Philadelphia Sixers.
Magic Set 3-Point Record: Paolo Banchero led seven Orlando players in double figures as the Magic hit a franchise-best 27 three-pointers in a 131-94 win over the Sacramento Kings.
Looking Ahead:
Friday’s NBA schedule is headlined by a pair of ESPN doubleheaders. The Minnesota Timberwolves will visit the Dallas Mavericks at 7:30 PM ET, followed by a highly anticipated “Battle of Los Angeles” matchup between the Lakers and Clippers at 10:00 PM ET. The Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards, are looking to continue their strong play, while the Lakers and Clippers will be battling for supremacy in the city.
All-Star Weekend viewership numbers were also released, revealing that the event was the most-watched in 24 years, with over 46 million viewers tuning in across NBC, Peacock, and ESPN – tripling last season’s audience.
