Detroit — Cade Cunningham nailed a 3-point field goal at the 5:47 mark of the fourth quarter Thursday night, giving the Detroit Pistons a 98-91 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It was the first of 12 points Cunningham would score during the final five minutes of Game 2, to lift the Pistons to a 107-97 victory inside Little Caesars Arena.
As chants of “MVP” echoed throughout, Cunningham delivered an impressive performance, finishing with 25 points and 10 assists. His ability to take charge in crucial moments highlights why coach J.B. Bickerstaff has the utmost trust in the All-Star guard in the clutch for recognizing “what the moment calls for,” especially given the number of times Cunningham has stepped up in the fourth quarter throughout the season.
“Cade is just fabulous,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s a killer closer, and all the adjectives you want to talk about, he’s it, and in the fourth quarter, he does his best work.”
As the series moves to Cleveland with the Pistons leading 2-0, Cunningham’s offensive performance has become a key factor in his popularity. He currently leads the league in scoring during this postseason, averaging 30.6 points per game on 45.0% shooting from the field and 40.6% shooting from behind the arc.
He is now fourth all-time in league history for the most consecutive 20-point performances to start a postseason career (15), trailing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27), LeBron James (19) and Anthony Davis (16). Cunningham has displayed an offensive showcase every time he has taken the court this postseason. However, he also has been just as impactful defensively, highlighting his two-way versatility.
“I’m just making sure that I am doing my job and not breaking down our defense,” Cunningham said. “Trying to make plays is huge for us. I’m just trying to execute as best as I can, making sure that we are high-level on that end, because that is what has won us games.”
As the Pistons prepare for Game 3 in Cleveland on Saturday, they have put together a standout defensive performance. Currently, they boast the second-best defensive rating in the league at 103.0, second only to the San Antonio Spurs, who have a rating of 100.6. Dating to their first-round series against the Orlando Magic, the Pistons have held their opponents to a league-low 98.0 points per game.
Headlined by Ausar Thompson, several players are responsible for the Pistons’ defensive success, but Cunningham’s contributions have become a bit overlooked.
Cunningham ranks in the top 10 among guards for blocks and steals, averaging 1.5 rejections and 1.0 takeaways in the second round alone. In nine playoff games, Cunningham has notched nine steals and eight blocks. However, despite feeling he has to “be better” defensively, Cunningham has been the secondary defender limiting James Harden throughout the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“It’s what we’ve talked about all year long. He’s not a one-dimensional or one-way player. I think he’s one of the top 10 two-way players in our league,” Bickerstaff said. “You look at his steals, the moments where he gets big blocks. His willingness to take on challenges and defend multiple positions makes him a superstar among other teams. He runs from nothing.”
Cunningham has been crucial in forcing Harden to average 5.5 turnovers per game while shooting 32.1% from the field and 9.1% on 3-point shooting. One of Cunningham’s best defensive plays occurred at the 8:07 mark of the third quarter in Game 1. He pickpocketed Harden as the former league MVP attempted to take him off the dribble. His steal led to Duncan Robinson assisting Thompson, who converted the turnover with a two-handed dunk.
“The fact that he can play both sides of the ball is hard to find, especially for a guy who has to carry so much on the offensive end,” center Isaiah Stewart said. “He gives so much effort on the defensive end and has bought in and has done a great job of helping us out.”
During his impressive performance in the final moments of Game 2, Cunningham executed a right-to-left crossover and made a step-back 3-point shot at the 2:12 mark of the fourth quarter. Much like his first 3-pointer within the last five minutes, his second shot sent the fans inside the arena into a frenzy.
However, on the Pistons’ next defensive possession, Cunningham made arguably his most significant play, showcasing his defense by rejecting Max Strus’ 3-point field goal attempt. The defensive stop marked Cunningham’s second block of the night, highlighting the Pistons’ identity as they continue to strive for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
“It allows us to do so many things and coach in such a way — if your best player is willing to lay it on the line on the defensive end of the floor, everybody else is held to a higher standard,” Bickerstaff said. “It allows us to coach the guys hard, but also, it allows us to do so many different things because of the way we can match up all over the floor with the versatility that we have and the guys we have who are willing to defend.”
Pistons at Cavaliers, Game 3
Tip-off: 3 p.m. Saturday, Rocket Arena, Cleveland
TV/radio: NBC/Peacock/950 AM
Outlook: The Pistons currently hold a 2-0 series lead over the Cavaliers, due to a strong collective effort. One key player who has significantly contributed to the Pistons’ success is Duncan Robinson. He scored 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting in Thursday’s victory and is now averaging 18.0 points while shooting 59.0% from 3-point range in the Pistons’ second-round series against the Cavaliers.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Cade Cunningham’s 2-way play has Detroit Pistons in 2-0 lead vs. Cavs
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
