The [Detroit Pistons](https://www.detroitbadboys.com), with three days between games for only the second time this season, traveled to New York to take on the [Knicks](https://www.postingandtoasting.com). Ausar Thompson did not play due to a sore groin (left adductor soreness) and New York was without Karl Anthony Towns and Cam Payne. The basketball gods shined down upon the Pistons tonight as they didn’t have to guard another stretch big, and it worked in their favor as they were victorious.
Detroit started this game on a 13-2 run that forced Thibs to call a timeout just a few minutes into the first quarter after the Pistons forced four New York turnovers. When the Pistons had a 17-7 lead, 14 of those points came in transition - they were out and running after each miss or turnover and were getting easy buckets on the fast break.
By the end of the quarter, Detroit was up 39-23. They were one point away from matching this season’s high of 40 points in a single quarter. Malik Beasley entered the game blazing hot as he went 4/4 from deep - is he going to fetch us a shiny new toy at the trade deadline or should Trajan be trying to keep Beasley on this team long term?
Cade had five points, three rebounds, and six assists as he was on triple-double watch early. Five Pistons had at least five points and it was a total team effort that helped them reach an early sixteen point lead.
New York couldn’t stay away for long as they started the second quarter on a 10-3 run that forced JBB to call a timeout. Cade immediately responded by drilling an off-the-dribble three off a Stew screen, and he looks more and more comfortable taking those jumpers.
The Knicks’ ball movement started picking up, which means the Pistons were forced to rotate on defense so New York was getting open threes. Things began to look a little sloppy defensively for Detroit as the Knicks were able to get it within four points, but another Cade Cunningham off-the-dribble three didn’t let it get any closer for the rest of the quarter.
The Pistons led the Knicks 69-58 at halftime, but let’s make one thing clear: this was the best half of basketball that Cade Cunningham has ever played in his NBA career. He had 21 points, five rebounds, and nine assists - and ZERO TURNOVERS. He was 5-for-7 from deep and you could tell that he was pulling those off-the-dribble threes with extreme confidence.
The only other Piston in double-digits was Malik Beasley who had 15 points because of his five first-half threes. Detroit shot 57% from the field and 57% from three - oddly enough, half of their 26 makes and half of their 46 attempts were from deep. How about this Pistons team with a shot diet of 50% twos and 50% threes? MORE THREES, JBB!
Detroit opened the second half with six straight points to lead 75-58, but New York responded with an 11-1 run. Jalen Duren missed a couple bunnies at the rim, got out-hustled down the court by Precious Achuiwa for an and-one, and then didn’t box out OG Anunoby on the ensuing free throw - he was then replaced by Isaiah Stewart. Hey JBB, if you’re looking for another big that can defend and play with energy, maybe give Paul Reed some minutes?
Cade, who had four fouls, was subbed out at 3:48 left in the quarter after Beasley hit a technical free throw to make it an 89-77 Pistons lead. Detroit would not score for the rest of the third as Jaden Ivey missed three shots that were all blocked, and he and Ron Holland had some bad turnovers. You could say this team could use a backup PG, but I’d rather that be Ausar Thompson’s role - if only he was healthy tonight. New York scored eight straight to end the quarter, and Detroit held on to an 89-85 lead.
Cunningham got his 6th career triple-double fifteen seconds into the fourth quarter, and he is now the first ever Detroit Piston to have a triple-double in Madison Square Garden. He played the first five minutes and Detroit extended their lead by ten to take a 105-91 lead. A Jalen Duren dunk and two Jaden Ivey threes protected the Pistons’ lead as Cade sat, but he returned with 4:14 left in the game as Detroit led 113-97.
New York wasn’t going to go out quietly as they hit three straight threes on a 10-2 run. A JBB timeout got Malik Beasley subbed in, and Cade Cunningham found him for another three and another assist to stop the bleeding. Detroit held on to beat the Knicks 120-111.
Six Pistons ended up with double-digit points as Detroit shot 52% from the field and 50% (!) from deep. They hit 18 threes total and 12 of those came from Cade and Beasley. You’d like to get more out of your center position as Duren had three rebounds and Stew had five, but tonight is about Cade Cunningham.
Cade finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists. He was the best player on the court tonight and it wasn’t close. He shot 9-for-17 (53%) from the field and 5-for-8 from deep (63%). Cade has now finished 11 of the last 14 games with 10+ assists - who says this guy isn’t a point guard? It’s very evident Detroit needs a clear #2 next to Cade as New York sent double-team after double-team at him throughout the last few minutes, but let’s stick to celebrating the Pistons beating the Knicks for the first team since 2019, which was Dwane Casey’s first year as head coach.
One could say this was a...night of magic.
Now that the in-season tournament is over for Detroit, two new games have been added to the schedule: @ Boston on Thursday, December 12 and vs Miami on Monday, December 16. Leading up to next Thursday’s game will be the first time this season the Pistons will have more than a two-day rest.