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Cade Cunningham continued MVP-caliber season with 40-point game at Madison Square Garden
Fresh off the All-Star break, Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham continued his MVP-caliber season with a historic 40-point game on Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
The 6-foot-6 guard exploded for 42 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds while converting five of his 11 three-point attempts.
He joins LeBron James (twice) and Allen Iverson as the only opposing players with 40+ points and 10+ assists at Madison Square Garden.
“He’s a superstar and there’s no doubt about it,” said Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “It’s hard for me to think of five guys that do more on both ends than he does.”
Cunningham is the first player in Pistons franchise history to record 40+ points, 10+ assists, five-plus rebounds and five-plus made three-pointers in a game.
42 POINTS AT MSG 😤
It’s the Cade Cunningham show 😮💨 #NBAonPrime
Bickerstaff praised the 2026 All-Star starter for his two-way contributions despite his heavy usage rate.
“He guards the other team’s best perimeter player. Offensively, the ball is in his hands and his usage rate is through the roof. He never says no and he never complains. He goes out and gets the job done. He’s impacted winning and I think that’s what superstars do.”
Cade Cunningham Shines at Madison Square Garden
GettyCade Cunningham makes Detroit Pistons history on Thursday against the Knicks
From the first whistle to the last, Cunningham was in full control against the Knicks.
He controlled the tempo, scored at will and created open looks for his teammates.
Under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, Cunningham looked the part of a superstar.
Cunningham erupted for 24 points in the first half. His 42 points on Thursday are four points shy of matching his career-high, which he set in November against Washington.
After losing a competitive six-game playoff series against the Knicks last year, Cade and the Pistons completed a regular-season series sweep against New York on Thursday.
“Means a lot to sweep a team as good as [the Knicks],” Cunningham said postgame. “They play high-level basketball. So, it feels good to compete against those types of teams.”
Detroit entered the All-Star break with the best record in the East and extended its lead on Thursday. The Pistons have won four consecutive games.
Cade Cunningham Wants to Compete For Team USA
GettyCade Cunningham says he is the best American basketball player
Hours before his historic 40-point outing against the New York Knicks, GQ released an exclusive interview with Cunningham, where he expressed his desire to compete in the Olympics.
Not only that, the Pistons star declared himself the best American-born basketball player.
“I want to be on the Olympic team coming up,” Cunningham told GQ. “I think I’m the best American player.”
Ranking himself over the likes of Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, and Kevin Durant is a bold take, but not one without merit.
Cade has been otherworldly this season and is firmly in the MVP race.
Even before his historic performance against the Knicks, one could argue that he would be the best player on the upcoming Team USA roster.
Cunningham was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2021 and has rapidly blossomed into a star in Detroit.
Soon, his stardom will be showcased on a global stage, too.
Jalyn Smoot Jalyn Smoot is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has nearly 10 years of experience in local and national media, including print and digital. He previously covered the Texas Rangers for MLB.com and the Philadelphia 76ers for Metro Philadelphia. Smoot is a St. Louis born writer that now resides in Dallas. More about Jalyn Smoot
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