Cade Cunningham delivered a dominant performance with 36 points and eight assists, leading the
Detroit Pistons to a 115-106 victory over the New York Knicks on Thursday night.
The win could serve as a sneak peek at a potential first-round matchup in the upcoming NBA Playoffs.
The Knicks, dealing with key injuries, were without starters OG Anunoby (thumb) and Josh Hart (knee), missing an opportunity to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference standings.
All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson briefly exited late in the third quarter after rolling his left ankle but returned to finish the game. He struggled from the field, scoring 15 points while shooting just 5-of-15.
Despite holding the lead for much of the night, New York was outscored by nine points in the fourth quarter as Detroit surged late. The Pistons, currently sixth in the East, showcased depth and energy in the final stretch.
Jalen Duren was perfect from the field, going 9-for-9 en route to 18 points and 13 rebounds. Tobias Harris added 17 points, while rookie standout Ron Holland chipped in with 13.
For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Precious Achiuwa capitalized on increased minutes due to injuries, scoring 18 points in the loss.
