Cade Cunningham adds to MVP case with 42 points as Pistons crush Knicks

cade cunningham produced a 42-point, 13-assist outing to power the Detroit Pistons to a 126-111 win over the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, the third lopsided victory Detroit has posted over New York this season. The performance deepened Cunningham’s MVP case and underscored a growing gap between the teams.

Cade Cunningham’s 42-point night

Cade Cunningham finished with 42 points on 17-of-34 shooting, hitting 5-of-11 from deep, while adding 13 assists, eight rebounds and two blocks. He opened strong with 14 first-quarter points, closed the first half with a late push and delivered key buckets and assists throughout the third and fourth quarters, including a stepback 3 late in the game that pushed him to 40.

Pistons complete regular-season sweep

Detroit’s 126-111 victory marked the third time the Pistons have dominated the Knicks this season, following 31- and 38-point wins earlier in the campaign. Over those three meetings the Pistons were plus-84, a stark indicator of how the matchups have tilted decisively in Detroit’s favor.

Bigs step up without key centers

The Pistons managed the win despite absences in the middle of their rotation. Paul Reed started and produced 18 points while two-way center Tolu Smith played a supporting role; together they handled a Knicks frontcourt that included Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Towns scored 21 points, with 19 coming in the second half, and Jalen Brunson led New York with 33 points and seven assists, but the Knicks never appeared to gain control.

What this means moving forward

The game reinforced two observable trends: Cunningham’s capacity for takeovers against strong defensive opponents, and Detroit’s favorable matchup results versus New York this season. With the Pistons continuing on the road to Chicago on Saturday at 8 p. m. ET, Detroit will have a quick chance to carry momentum into another regular-season assignment. If Cunningham keeps producing high-usage, high-efficiency nights and the bench/frontcourt cover remains effective, the Pistons’ recent form suggests they will remain a difficult matchup for contenders.

• Key takeaways: Cunningham’s 42 points and 13 assists; Pistons swept Knicks and were plus-84 in the three games; Paul Reed scored 18 while New York’s Brunson had 33.