Welcome to the Cade Cunningham show where Monday’s performance featured a 19-point explosion in the fourth quarter as Detroit’s All-Star guard helped secure a victory for the Pistons, 114-106. 

“It’s his heart,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game. “It’s his courage. It’s his determination, just grit. It’s his love of the Detroit Pistons, the city of Detroit. He plays for them. He plays for his teammates, and he was undeniable tonight.”

Scoring a season-high 33 points in the dramatic win, Cunningham made all the difference for Detroit down the stretch. Now, Cunningham had only put together a modest 14-point performance entering the fourth quarter, but the 6-6 do-it-all guard took the game by the scruff of its neck at the end. By that stage, Detroit could feel its double-digit lead beginning to slip away, so Cade started driving to the hoop and fighting through contact to get buckets.

The above video details Cunningham’s dynamic 19-point effort in the fourth quarter.

Whether by dribble-drive or by jumpshot, Cunningham had zeroed in on his target by that point. Detroit’s third-team All-Pro mixed in aggressive drives to the bucket with controlled, operational pivots around the court to find his desired shot, and Cunningham hit a series of clutch shots down the stretch.

With the game on the line, Cunningham showed why he is trusted to deliver victory after victory for the Pistons. When others may show cracks under pressure, Cunningham instead shows that his mettle is made of immovable steel, except for when he needs to dart towards the hoop. Then Cunningham’s mettle travels at a lightning-quick pace.

Whatever Detroit needs on a given night, Cunningham can deliver. Just the game before, the Oklahoma State product dished out a career-high mark of 18 assists, matching his helper total from a December 16, 2024 game against the Miami Heat. 

Cade Cunningham’s 33-Point Effort Stifles Grizzlies Comeback, Pistons Win 114-106 The Detroit Pistons now move to 5-2 on the season

“He’s a bad man, and that’s it," Bickerstaff said. "When it’s winning time, you’ve got to have a guy like that on your team.”

Cunningham has grown into the undeniable leader of the Pistons’ team, and it’s through performances like Monday night that he’s grown to have the utmost confidence from his peers. When the game is hanging in the balance, the Pistons know they can count on Cunningham to deliver, just like he did against the Grizzlies for Detroit’s fifth win of the season. 

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