The Detroit Pistons took a 2-0 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round with a 107-97 win on Thursday night
Through the first 15 playoff games of his career, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has checked all the boxes that are indicative of superstardom. In that sample size, Cunningham has scored at least 20 points in each of those 15 contests, which is a postseason feat that has only been matched by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Throughout the extensive history of the NBA, Cunningham is part of that exclusive four-man club of postseason scorers that have shown they were ready for the bright lights from day one. When many players have wilted under the pressure of playoff basketball, Cunningham has demonstrated that he not only enjoys the pressure– he thrives in those do-or-die moments.
In game seven against the Orlando Magic, Cunningham delivered a 32-point performance that helped the Pistons complete a 3-1 comeback over their first round opponent. And through two games against the Cavs in round two, Cunningham is showing a command for the game that allows for the All-Star to facilitate for his teammates until it’s his time to deliver with a scoring barrage in the fourth quarter, which is a blueprint he’s executed to perfection while building a 2-0 lead over Cleveland.
On Thursday night, Cunningham had 13 points and 10 assists entering the fourth quarter, which meant it was time for the fifth-year floor general to put on his scoring hat and hunt down his own shot. At that stage, the Cavs were breathing down Detroit’s neck, so it was a crucial moment in the matchup that Cunningham knew he needed to seize.
In fending off Cleveland and defending his home court for the second straight game, Cunningham ended the night with 25 points, 10 assists, three rebounds, two blocks and one steal while staying a peerless 8-for-8 from the free throw line in Detroit’s 107-97 victory during game two.
“Cade is just fabulous,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game. “He’s a killer closer and all the adjectives you want to talk about, he’s it. In the fourth quarter, he does his best work.”
The Pistons needed a strong closing effort from the leader to seal their game two victory, and Cunningham delivered in a fashion that’s become commonplace for Detroit across the 2025-26 campaign. Cunningham’s production has a casual inevitability to it that only adds to the level of composure that the Pistons’ point guard displays on the floor. All together, that demeanor has been key during Detroit’s ascension from Eastern Conference challenger to contender, especially when fellow All-Star Jalen Duren's performance has been hit or miss.
But for all of his offensive talents and intangible qualities as a leader, Cunningham’s defense is one of his most slept on qualities. Taking on Donovan Mitchell and James Harden at various times in an on-ball format, Cunningham has offered stiff opposition to the Cleveland backcourt through two games in the second round.
“It allows us to do so many different things and coach in such a way,” Bickerstaff said of Cunningham’s defense. “If your best player is willing to lay it on the line on the defensive end of the floor, everybody is held to a high standard, the same standard that he is. So, it allows us to coach the guys hard, but it allows us to do so many different things because of the way we can match up all over the floor with the versatility that we have and the guys’ willingness to defend.”
After Detroit’s 10-point win on Thursday, the Pistons will travel along Lake Erie for a game three matchup that is set for 3 pm on Saturday, May 9.
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