Cade Cunningham’s clutch performance and triple-double lifted the Detroit Pistons (4-6) over the Atlanta Hawks (4-6), 122-121, on Friday night, sealing Detroit’s victory with a game-winning basket with just 8.5 seconds left.
Cunningham notched 22 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds, marking his third straight triple-double and matching Grant Hill’s record streak in franchise history. His fifth career triple-double ties him with Pistons legend Isiah Thomas for the second-most in team history.
After Trae Young put Atlanta ahead 121-120 with 12.5 seconds remaining, Cunningham drove past defenders and hit a tough hook shot, reclaiming the lead for Detroit.
Young, who led all scorers with 35 points and 13 assists, had one last opportunity to retake the lead. However, Cunningham capped off his night by blocking Onyeka Okongwu’s shot attempt at the buzzer, preserving Detroit’s win and avoiding a last-second comeback by Atlanta.
Detroit’s Malik Beasley and Tobias Harris each added 22 points, keeping the Pistons’ offense balanced in a tightly contested game.
The Pistons initially built a 24-point lead in the first half, capitalizing on solid playmaking and scoring depth across the roster, but Atlanta rallied to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson contributed 20 points, while Dyson Daniels had 18, hitting a floater with 3:36 left that tied the game at 116.
The Hawks’ defensive adjustments in the second half, along with Young’s seven assists in the fourth quarter, nearly completed the comeback.
Despite early shooting struggles, Cunningham dominated the game as a playmaker, recording seven rebounds and nine assists by halftime while scoring only two points. His late-game resilience helped Detroit regain momentum, particularly with Jaden Ivey’s three-point play and Harris’s timely 3-pointer late in the game.
Detroit shot effectively from beyond the arc, hitting 13 of 33 attempts, while Atlanta struggled defensively against Cunningham’s drives in the final minutes. The Hawks briefly seized the lead, but the Pistons’ star guard ensured his team would come out on top.
