Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores speaks to media before home opener
Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores speaks to the media before the 2025-26 home opener at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 26.
- Cade Cunningham led the Detroit Pistons to a 135-116 victory over the Orlando Magic.
- Cunningham scored 30 points with 10 assists, three blocks, and three steals with zero turnovers.
- The performance marked a return to form for Cunningham after a slow start to the season.
Cade Cunningham buried the Orlando Magic.
The Detroit Pistons’ All-NBA guard featured an array of spin moves, post hooks and layups through contact; shaking off a slow start through four games, Cunningham successfully picked his spots in a blowout win over the Magic on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
As impressive as his work was on offense, he wowed just as much on defense. A pair of thunderous blocks on Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs at the beginning of the third quarter helped tip the momentum of the game in the Pistons’ favor, and he had several steals that created scoring opportunities.
His final line — 30 points, 10 assists, three blocks, three steals and zero turnovers in 36 minutes — speaks for itself. It was one of the most complete performances of Cunningham’s career and, by far, his best performance of the season yet, powering the Pistons (3-2) to a 135-116 home win.
Most importantly, it was a return to last season’s form after issues with aggressive double teams through four games. That included arguably his worst game this season, in a blowout by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday — 12 points, five rebounds and four assists on 3-for-14 shooting.
“He figured out where his spots on the floor were where he could attack and stay away from traffic and stay away from multiple bodies,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Wednesday. “More isolation situations and not always in a pick-and-roll was good for him. He’s Cade Cunningham for a reason, right? And we’re lucky to have him.”
Cunningham is one of the top shot-blocking guards in the league, and his swats were exclamation points as the Pistons overcame an early 10-point deficit to dominate much of the second half. A give-and-go between Orlando’s Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. would’ve created an open layup had Cunningham not rotated from the weak side to swat it. He then secured the rebound and went coast-to-coast for a layup.
His next block was more impressive — a stuff on a would-be poster dunk attempt in transition by Jalen Suggs. The force of the block knocked Suggs to the floor and led to an open 3-pointer on the other end for Duncan Robinson.
Through his first four games, Cunningham was averaging 20.3 points on 36.1% overall shooting. His defense was more sound than his offense, though that was bound to catch up eventually for the 2021 No. 1 overall pick. On Wednesday, he made 12 of his 24 attempts.
“I can’t be just a one-sided player,” Cunningham said. “I gotta make plays on both ends of the ball. Early on, just getting in a rhythm with that, pushing myself to make plays on that end of the ball. I think I have a lot of room to grow with it so far this year. I think I’ve put us in some tough spots at times. I’m trying to keep making plays for the team and help us win games.”
The blocks were his biggest highlights, but Cunningham also displayed his full offensive bag. During a 16-3 Pistons run in the fourth quarter, Cunningham had eight straight points, including back-to-back three-point plays — a jump hook through contact from Magic guard Anthony Black, a fastbreak layup through contact from Tyus Jones and a crossover into a spinning layup past Michigan alumnus Franz Wagner.
“MVP” chants echoed through Little Caesars Arena when Cunningham went to the line. He was clearly the best player in a game featuring 2022’s No. 1 pick, Paolo Banchero, and recent lottery picks Suggs (No. 5 in 2021) and Wagner (No. 8 in 2021).
The only other players to out up a 30-points, 10-assist, three-block, three-steal game within the last decade are Luka Dončić, James Harden and Nikola Jokić. Not bad company.
The Pistons’ defense has been better than their offense so far, prone to slow starts and inefficient stretches. They’ve had to weather three of their ballhandlers – Jaden Ivey, Caris LeVert (who returned Wednesday) and Marcus Sasser – in street clothes.
Cunningham’s job should become easier as the talent around him becomes healthier.
But sometimes, you just need to take over. Cunningham’s decisive game pulled the Pistons back above .500, and created momentum entering their Mexico City game against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday (10 p.m., Peacock).
“My team helping me,” Cunningham said when crediting his performance. “Setting good screens, spacing the floor. I thought we were just a lot more efficient with our offense. And then it was a mindset thing for me, but my teammates pushing me and telling me to get going was huge.”
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