Cade Cunningham made history on Thursday by scoring 52 points, dishing 11 assists, and committing zero turnovers in the Detroit Pistons’ 144-140 double-overtime victory against the Washington Wizards.
Here is what the analytics missed, as this performance lifted Detroit to an 8-3 record and established Cunningham as the first player in NBA history to record at least 50 points and 10 assists without a single turnover since the league began tracking turnovers in the 1977-78 season, according to Associated Press reporting.
His court management was flawless for 48 minutes, without losing the ball a single time. By hitting the 50-point and 11-assist threshold without a turnover, he surpassed the marks of Michael Jordan, Nikola Jokic, and Damian Lillard, who each recorded one turnover in their respective 50-point, 11-assist games over the last 49 years.
- Ausar Thompson’s performance—featuring 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists—highlights his role as a playmaker.
- The Pistons’ start to the season improves their record to 8-3.
The clash in the nation’s capital required two extra periods after Washington twice erased deficits with buzzer-beaters. Trae Young forced the first extra session with a clutch triple, and rookie AJ Dybantsa tied it up again with a mid-range jumper before Detroit finally pulled away.
Cunningham scored 30 of his 52 points in the fourth quarter and overtime periods, the most by a Pistons player since the 1997-98 season. Marca USA notes that the former top pick shot 16-of-25 from the field while logging 48 minutes. Cunningham’s 52 points tied the fourth-highest single-game scoring total in Pistons history, trailing Jerry Stackhouse (57 in 2001), Kelly Tripucka (56 in 1983), Dave Bing (54 in 1971), and George Yardley (52 in 1958).
CADE CUNNINGHAM: FIRST PLAYER TO RECORD 50+ POINTS, 10+ ASSISTS WITH ZERO TURNOVERS SINCE 1977-78! 🔥 52 POINTS (30 IN 4Q/OT/2OT) 🔥 11 ASSISTS 🔥 16-25 FGM DETROIT WINS A THRILLER IN 2OT. pic.twitter.com/0iX0hF8kFj
Cunningham responded to Washington’s pressure with a triple, and after Anthony Davis fouled out, Detroit gained the edge. With the game separated by only two points in the final minute, Cunningham secured the win by scoring from the baseline to make it 142-138 with 25.3 seconds remaining.
“Sin duda, ha sido la mejor actuación de mi carrera en la NBA”
— Cade Cunningham, Pistons guard”
Uno Contra Uno reports that head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s squad leaned on their performance to outlast a Washington team that had two players score 30 points. The Wizards saw Trae Young record 37 points and 14 assists, while Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr each added 30 points, marking the franchise’s first trio of 30-point scorers since 1969.
“Cade Cunningham nos guio a través del último cuarto y las prórrogas. Hizo lo que suele hacer. No basta con que un solo jugador intente defenderlo”
— Ausar Thompson, Pistons forward”
Detroit will now travel to face the Miami Heat on Saturday night, while Washington prepares to host the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
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