Cade Cunningham “led the Detroit Pistons” to a 144-140 double overtime win against the Washington Wizards with a historic 52-point performance, according to Detroit Pistons reporting.
The star guard finished the contest with 52 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, one steal, and one block while shooting 16-25 from the field and 3-5 from beyond the arc, as detailed by Washington Wizards coverage.
Cunningham became the only player in NBA history to record at least 50 points and 10 assists with zero turnovers in a single game, per league historical data.
Following the victory, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff “praised Cade Cunningham’s leadership” on the offensive end of the floor.
However, the coach expressed clear frustration that the Pistons allowed the Wizards to score 140 points during the matchup, as noted by team announcements.
Bickerstaff praised Cunningham by stating, “It speaks to who he is; the more you’re around him, the more you respect him for who he is and what his abilities are.”
When addressing the team’s defensive lapses, the head coach did not hold back his harsh critique.
Bickerstaff described the defensive performance by saying, “It was bad. It was terrible. We were not up to our standard defensively.”
The Detroit defense currently ranks as one of the best in the league with the second-best defensive rating at 107.9, sitting just behind the Boston Celtics at 107.6.
With the victory, the Pistons improved their season record to 8-3 and currently hold the third spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
The team now prepares to face the Miami Heat on Saturday, November 14, in a highly anticipated matchup between two defensive powerhouses.