The Detroit Pistons head into another elimination game tomorrow night with the Orlando Magic in the lead by a 3-2 margin
Before game five tipped off for the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham could feel the mounting pressure on his shoulders with his team on the brink of elimination. Last year, the Pistons were bounced from the first round by the New York Knicks, and the bitter taste from that matchup has motivated Cunningham and his associates for the duration of the 2025-26 campaign.
Looking to finally establish the Pistons as a serious postseason contender, Cunningham knew that Detroit needed a peerless performance from their leader last night, and the fifth-year floor general turned in his most influential effort of the series with a franchise scoring record 45 points, five assists and four rebounds in the 116-109 victory. Cunningham went toe-to-toe with Paolo Banchero from the Magic as both playmakers posted 45 points in the competitive, back and forth playoff duel.
“I’m sure it was a great game,” Cunningham said afterwards. “I hope the fans enjoyed it, but it was a great win for us because we needed it.”
As Cunningham alluded to, the Pistons were in must-win mode during game five since they entered the matchup down in a 3-1 hole, so the Eastern Conference’s top seed had to dig deep with a meaningful response just to stick around in the postseason. Along with Cunningham's 45-point night, Ausar Thompson snatched a staggering 15 rebounds along with six points, six assists, five steals and two blocks in his wide-reaching, impactful performance against the Magic.
“Just never die mentality,” Cunningham said. “I wanted to have controlled aggression all night and make sure they felt me. I don’t want this season to end right now, so I’ve got to put it all on the line.”
But towards the end of Cunningham’s post-game press conference after game five, the Motown superstar spoke more candidly about the tight-rope act that he carries out every night. Since Cunningham is viewed as the engine of the Pistons’ offense, the team relies on his ability to consistently hit shots so that Detroit can have the fluidity necessary to avoid scoring droughts. But as the squad’s point guard, another part of Cunningham’s job title is to distribute the rock so that his teammates can find their own rhythm and help contribute to the task at hand.
“That’s definitely the balance you have to find with my position, my job and with the skill set that I have,” Cunningham said. “I know that I can get us points by me scoring, but also make sure with my team that I’m using my playmaking ability to get everybody going and just make the right play. I’ve got guys on my team that can finish plays, so just making sure that I’m balanced and just making sure that I’m making the best play for my team at all times. Sometimes in the fourth quarter, the ball has to be in my hands a little more, but it’s just about having that feel for the game.”
For game five, that ratio erred more on the side of Cunningham’s scoring ability with the two-time All-Star locked into a duel with Banchero for much of the second half. Cunningham still dished out a handful of assists, but his teammates understood that it was his time to shine, which is an added pressure in and of itself during the playoffs.
“Not everybody is blessed with those type of opportunities to have pressure and have things on the line like that,” Cunningham said. “A lot of times, I feel undeserving of how great of moments I get to be a part of, so just thankful for it. Just try to make the most out of it.”
That response helps reveal a side of Cade that is often hidden beneath his competitive on-court glare. Even though Cunningham is fortunate enough to play in high-stakes basketball games, Detroit’s leader chooses to revel in the moment as opposed to shying away from the bright lights. That’s the approach Cunningham used during game five, and the Pistons might need a repeat effort from their single-game playoff scoring leader when game six arrives tomorrow night at 7 pm.
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