Cade Cunningham delivered in the clutch, sinking a deep three-pointer with less than a second remaining to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 116-113 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
The 23-year-old guard, who finished with a triple-double, reflected on the moment postgame. “It’s a great feeling. It’s hard to put into words for real,” Cunningham said. “That was my first 3-ball game-winner. It’s fun, man. This is the stuff you always dream of as a kid… on the driveway, count down in your head.”
Detroit (39-31) trailed for most of the second half and never led by more than two until Cunningham’s game-winner. His late heroics helped the Pistons secure their sixth win in the last eight games while keeping their playoff positioning intact.
Cunningham finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, marking his ninth triple-double of the season. He joined James Harden, Domantas Sabonis, and Nikola Jokic as the only players to record multiple triple-doubles against the Heat in a single season.
Bam Adebayo led Miami (29-40) with 30 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while Tyler Herro added 29 points. The Heat held a 93-88 lead entering the fourth quarter and were up by eight in the final period before Detroit’s late comeback.
Miami’s losing streak extended to nine games as they struggled on the glass, getting outrebounded 47-37. Detroit also dominated inside, scoring 70 points in the paint.
Cunningham sealed the win by knocking down back-to-back threes, including the dramatic game-winner. His clutch performance gave the Pistons a crucial road victory as they continued their push toward the playoffs.
