Cade Cunningham has pushed the Detroit Pistons into a rare place in the NBA playoffs. The NBA announced that Cunningham became the fourth player in league history to score at least 20 points in each of his first 15 career playoff games.
What happened in Game 2?
Cunningham's 25 points and 10 assists led the Pistons to a 107-97 win over the Cavaliers in Game 2. He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Pistons take a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Pistons' coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, praised Cunningham's performance, calling him "the killer" and "the closer". Cunningham's ability to close out games has been a key factor in the Pistons' success.
How does Cunningham's performance compare to others?
Cunningham's playoff production is impressive, with averages of 30.6 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. He is shooting 45.0% from the field and 40.6% from 3-point range.
In his last 10 games, Cunningham has averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.4 rebounds. His regular-season averages were 23.9 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds.
What's next for the Pistons and Cavaliers?
The Pistons can take full control of the series in Game 3. Cunningham's star turn is quickly becoming the defining story of the Pistons' postseason run.
Cunningham has averaged 22.6 points, 8.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in 14 regular-season and playoff games against the Cavaliers since 2022-23. His performance against the Cavaliers has been consistent, with 23 points and seven assists in Game 1 and 25 points and 10 assists in Game 2.
The contrast between Cunningham and James Harden has been notable. Harden's full postseason line is respectable, but his efficiency and ball-security issues have become part of Cleveland's problem.
Harden finished with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and four turnovers in Game 2, shooting 3-of-13 from the field and 0-of-4 from 3-point range. Cunningham's ability to drive the Pistons' offense and close games has been a key factor in their success.
The Pistons' physical defense has continued to bother the Cavaliers, with 20 turnovers in Game 1 and a strong performance in Game 2. Cunningham's usage has been efficient, and the Pistons can live with his mistakes because he is driving their offense.
Cunningham's performance has been impressive, and he will look to continue his strong play in Game 3. The Pistons are in a good position to take control of the series, and Cunningham's star turn is a major reason why.