Cade Cunningham Drops 40 Points After All-Star Selection, Leads Pistons to Victory

DETROIT, Mich. — Just one day after earning his first All-Star selection, Cade Cunningham delivered a career-defining performance, scoring 40 points to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 120-116 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night at Little Caesars Arena.

Cunningham, 23, matched his season-high in points, shooting 17-of-30 from the field while adding six rebounds and four assists. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft fell just three points shy of his career-best 43 points, drawing chants of “MVP” from the home crowd in the closing minutes.

“He just plays at his own pace, and you can tell he has a confidence about him this year that’s different from last year,” said Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, who led Dallas with 28 points. “Really happy for him that he finally got his nod too for the All-Star Game. It’s good stuff.”

Cunningham’s stellar performance capped a remarkable January, during which he scored at least 30 points in eight games. Friday marked his fifth game of at least 35 points this season, surpassing the total from his first three NBA seasons combined. He is now averaging career highs in scoring (25.3 points), assists (9.2), and rebounds (6.4) per game.

The Pistons, who snapped a three-game losing streak, also received strong contributions from Jalen Duren, who added 17 points, and Isaiah Stewart, who posted 16 points and 13 rebounds. For the Mavericks, Luka Dončić contributed 22 points and 13 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Cunningham’s dominant showing.

Cunningham’s third-quarter performance was particularly pivotal, as he outscored his teammates 16-15, including eight points in the final 2:42 of the period. His ability to control the game’s tempo and deliver in clutch moments has been a hallmark of his breakout season.

The victory improved the Pistons’ record to 8-40, while the Mavericks fell to 26-22. Despite Detroit’s struggles this season, Cunningham’s emergence as a franchise cornerstone has provided hope for the team’s future.