Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, left, dribbles the ball against Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Rank)
Cade Cunningham scored 38 points on Sunday to help the visiting Detroit Pistons win their season-best sixth straight game, a 148-143 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Cunningham finished 14-for-24 shooting from the floor with seven 3-pointers, 12 assists and seven rebounds. It was his 15th game this season with 30-plus points.
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The game was tied 135-all at 2:35 and went through five lead changes until Dennis Schroder’s three-point play put the Pistons ahead to stay 142-140 with 33 seconds left. Detroit put it away when Malik Beasley made two free throws with 23 seconds remaining.
READ: NBA: Cade Cunningham, Pistons stay hot vs Spurs
Cade Cunningham & Trae Young put on a SHOW with matching 38-point performances!
Cade: 38p, 12a, 7 3pm, 7r, 3b
Trae: 38p, 13a, 6 3pmThe @DetroitPistons come out on top, winning their 6th in a row 📈🔥 pic.twitter.com/DAml88sxTz
— NBA (@NBA) February 24, 2025
Schroder, a former Hawk, came off the bench to score 16 points, his most since joining the Pistons at the trade deadline. Beasley added 24 points with six 3-pointers in a reserve role.
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The win gives Detroit a 3-1 lead in the season series, ensuring it of the tiebreaker, and gave the Pistons a five-game lead over the Hawks in the Eastern Conference. Detroit solidified its place at No. 6 and Atlanta dropped to No. 9 with its third straight loss.
The Pistons shot a season-high 59.1 percent from the field and matched their season high with 20 3-pointers.
Atlanta’s Trae Young scored 38 points with 13 assists. It was the 17th time Young surpassed the 30-point mark this season as he notched his 33rd double-double.
Off the bench, Georges Niang scored a season-high 27 points and matched his career high with seven 3-pointers. Dyson Daniels added 24 points and four steals.
READ: NBA: Pistons complete back-to-back sweep of Bulls
The Pistons took a 76-68 lead into halftime. Cunningham had 29 points on 11-for-16 shooting with six 3-pointers and 10 assists in the first half. Detroit led 33-30 after the first quarter and outscored Atlanta 15-7 over the final 2:44 of the half for an eight-point lead.
Detroit stretched the lead to 11, but Atlanta fought back to twice tie the game, lastly at 91-all on a 3-pointer by Niang at 6:18. The Pistons recovered and led 112-103 after three quarters.
Atlanta will complete its three-game homestand on Monday against the Miami Heat. Detroit will returns home on Monday to start a four-game homestand against the L.A. Clippers.
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