Cade Cunningham delivered one of the most memorable performances of his young career as the Detroit Pistons edged the Washington Wizards 137-135 in overtime, clinching their seventh straight win.
Cunningham exploded for a career-high 46 points, alongside 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and 5 steals—a full triple-double with the added flair of elite defensive stats. The route to that stat line, however, underscored the struggle: he attempted 45 field goals, ironically making just 14, marking a staggering 31 misses, which stands as a league mark for most field-goal misses in a game since the stat-tracking era. Cade
The Pistons trailed in the final five minutes of regulation and faced a 10-point deficit with time slipping away. It was a clutch sequence in the dying seconds where guard Daniss Jenkins drilled a corner three off Cunningham’s assist, forcing overtime.
In OT, Detroit took control. Contributions from Jalen Duren (19 points, 14 rebounds) and JaVonte Green closed the game out. Meanwhile, the Wizards’ CJ McCollum scored 42 but couldn’t deliver the victory, missing a final buzzer-beater as Washington extended its skid to nine consecutive losses.
What does it mean? For the Pistons, it’s another sign of rising identity and their ability to battle through adversity—even when their star is inefficient. For Cunningham, it’s a bold statement: elite numbers, durability, leadership, and the resilience to carry his squad. For the Wizards, it’s yet another “what-if” moment in a difficult season.
