Cade Cunningham's historic night leads Pistons past Knicks

Cunningham's 42-point, 13-assist performance is the first of its kind in Pistons franchise history.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham put on a show against the New York Knicks, scoring 42 points, dishing out 13 assists, and grabbing 8 rebounds in a 126-111 victory. Cunningham's stat line made franchise history, as he became the first Pistons player to post at least 40 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 made 3-pointers in a single game. The win extended Detroit's regular-season winning streak over the Knicks to six games.

Why it matters

Cunningham's dominant performance solidifies his status as an MVP candidate and helps the Pistons maintain their hold on the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons have now swept the Knicks in the season series, further establishing their dominance over their division rival.

The details

Cunningham scored 24 of Detroit's 58 first-half points, hitting three 3-pointers in the opening quarter to help the Pistons erase an early deficit. He closed the first half with eight points and an assist during a 7-0 run that sent Detroit into halftime ahead 58-48. Cunningham finished the game shooting 17-for-34 from the field, 5-for-11 from 3-point range, and a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line.

  • Cunningham scored 14 points in the opening quarter.
  • Cunningham accounted for 24 of Detroit's 58 first-half points.
  • Cunningham scored 8 points and had an assist during a 7-0 run to end the first half.

The players

Cade Cunningham

A 24-year-old star player for the Detroit Pistons who is emerging as an MVP candidate this season.

Jalen Brunson

The starting point guard for the New York Knicks, who scored 33 points and had 8 assists in the loss.

Karl-Anthony Towns

The starting center for the New York Knicks, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds in the game.

Paul Reed

The starting center for the Detroit Pistons in the absence of Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, scoring 18 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and blocking 3 shots.

Tobias Harris

The veteran forward for the Detroit Pistons, who contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

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What’s next

The Knicks will next host the Houston Rockets on Saturday, while the Pistons will travel to Chicago to face the Bulls.

The takeaway

Cade Cunningham's historic performance against the Knicks solidifies his status as an MVP candidate and helps the Pistons maintain their hold on the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons' dominance over the Knicks this season further establishes them as a force to be reckoned with in the NBA.