Detroit Pistons Secure Huge Road Win Over New York Knicks Behind Cade Cunningham’s Heroics
The Detroit Pistons rolled into Madison Square Garden Thursday night and did what they’ve done all season long to the New York Knicks—absolutely dominated them. Behind Cade Cunningham’s jaw-dropping 42-point performance, the Pistons cruised to a 126-111 victory, completing a rare three-game regular-season sweep and putting an emphatic stamp on their status as the top team in the Eastern Conference.
This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement—the kind that echoes through playoff seeding discussions and makes contenders take notice.
Cunningham Puts On a Clinic at The Garden
If there was any doubt about Cunningham’s MVP credentials, Thursday night should’ve erased them. The fourth-year guard was absolutely surgical, carving up New York’s defense with a performance that had “superstar” written all over it.
Cunningham finished with 42 points on 17-of-34 shooting (50%), knocking down five three-pointers while dishing out 13 assists and grabbing 8 rebounds. He added two blocks for good measure, making it clear that OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges had zero answers for him.
There were stretches where Cunningham looked downright unstoppable. He opened with 14 points in the first quarter, including three triples that helped fuel a 21-8 run that erased an early 9-2 deficit. By halftime, he racked up 22 points and had the Pistons up 58-48. But Cunningham wasn’t done. Not even close.
The Pistons Dominated Without Their Starting Centers
Here’s where it gets really wild: Detroit pulled off this beatdown without Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart—their entire starting frontcourt. Duren was serving the second game of a two-game suspension, while Stewart is suspended through March 3 following a brawl with the Charlotte Hornets before the All-Star break.
No problem for the Pistons. Paul Reed stepped into the starting lineup and delivered 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks. The Pistons narrowly edged the Knicks in the paint, 58-56, and won the rebounding battle 44-38. Not bad for a team missing both of its primary big men.
The Knicks Couldn’t Buy a Bucket From Deep
New York’s offense was stuck in quicksand all night, and the three-point line was where dreams went to die. The Knicks shot a brutal 8-of-35 (22.9%) from beyond the arc. Karl-Anthony Towns was invisible in the first half with just 2 points, but rallied in the second half to finish with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Still, it wasn’t nearly enough.
Anunoby, playing his first game back after missing four games with a toenail issue, was dreadful. He managed just eight points on 3-of-13 shooting, including 1-of-8 from three. Bridges matched Anunoby’s 8 points and was benched for the final 9 minutes. Jalen Brunson did his part with 33 points and 8 assists, but he committed 6 turnovers and got zero help from his supporting cast.
Knicks Coach Mike Brown’s Regret
After the game, Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown admitted he had a plan to slow down Cunningham—force him to the sidelines, keep him out of the middle of the floor. It’s a defensive adjustment that had worked during New York’s pre-All-Star winning streak.
Problem is, they didn’t execute it. “We didn’t force him to the sideline/let him get to the middle of the floor too often,” Brown said. “Cunningham seemed to get anywhere he wanted tonight.” That’s putting it mildly. Cunningham played 38 minutes and looked fresh the entire time, slicing through New York’s defense like a hot knife through butter.
What This Means For Both Teams
With the win, the Pistons improved to 41-13—the best record in the NBA and seven games ahead of the third-place Knicks (35-21) in the East. They’re also six games up on the Boston Celtics and seven ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division.
For New York, this has to sting. They’ve now been outscored by a combined 84 points across three meetings with Detroit this season. The MSG crowd let them hear it too, booing as the game wound down.
The Knicks’ chances of catching the Pistons for the top seed? Pretty much toast. And if these teams meet in the playoffs again, Detroit is going to have a serious psychological edge.
Up Next
The Pistons continue their post-All-Star road swing Saturday night in Chicago, facing a Bulls team sitting 11th in the East and fighting for a play-in spot. The Knicks will try to bounce back Saturday when they host the Houston Rockets, hoping to avoid another embarrassing performance at home.
