Cade Cunningham adds to MVP case with 42 points as Pistons sweep Knicks
cade cunningham poured in 42 points, dished 13 assists and grabbed eight rebounds to power the Detroit Pistons to a 126-111 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, completing a regular-season sweep and reinforcing his MVP credentials.
Cade Cunningham turns MSG into a showcase
Cunningham attacked the Knicks from the opening period, opening with 14 points in the first quarter including three 3-pointers and closing the first half with eight points in the final three minutes and an assist on a Duncan Robinson 3. He finished the night 5-of-11 from long range and added two blocks, repeatedly getting favorable matchups against OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and, late in the game, Jeremy Sochan.
Pistons win without their top bigs
Detroit did it despite missing Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart because of suspension. Paul Reed started at center and had 18 points while Tolu Smith provided minutes inside; Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 33 points. The Pistons held New York to just 8-of-35 from 3-point range, including a stretch when the Knicks missed 15 straight in the first half.
Sequences that sealed it and the immediate impact
After New York trimmed the lead to two early in the third quarter, Cunningham scored the Pistons’ next 11 points — a sequence that included a fourth 3-pointer, a layup through traffic, a midrange jumper and a left-handed dunk. He hit a stepback 3 over Jeremy Sochan to reach 40 points in the fourth, then threw a transition alley-oop to Daniss Jenkins to push the margin beyond reach. The win completed Detroit’s sweep of the Knicks in the regular season.
Cunningham has spoken privately about the MVP award in the preseason, saying the honor would come as a by-product of team success; after Thursday’s performance he was more direct, saying, “I think I am [MVP]. ” The Pistons’ victory and his 42-point, 13-assist line offered another concrete chapter in that case.
The triumph sent Detroit to a 41-13 record, the best mark in the league, and extended the club’s strong run on the road with another decisive victory at Madison Square Garden.
Detroit now heads to Chicago to face the Bulls on Saturday at 8: 00 p. m. ET as the Pistons continue the second half of their season. Recovery and travel plans were set to follow the game, with the next on-court test scheduled in Chicago.
