Cade Cunningham outduels Trae Young, Pistons hold off Hawks for 6th straight win
Published in Basketball
ATLANTA — When Cade Cunningham was named an All-Star in early February, many basketball fans, especially those in Atlanta, felt that Trae Young deserved the selection.
Young has had a strong season, as he is on track to earn his first career assist title, averaging a league-best 11.4 per game this season. He later received the honor by replacing Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed the midseason showcase due to a calf injury.
Since their initial announcement, the Detroit Pistons have played against the Atlanta Hawks twice, with the most recent game taking place at State Farm Arena on Sunday night. Similar to their matchup on Feb. 3, both teams showcased their All-Stars, who boasted their impressive scoring and playmaking abilities.
With a game-high 38 points (14 of 24 FG, 7 of 10 3-pointers) and 12 assists, Cunningham led Detroit to a 148-143 victory. With the win, the Pistons improved to 31-26 overall while sweeping their four-game road trip 4-0.
Young also finished with 38 points (10 of 24 FG, 6 of 15 3PT), and added 13 assists. Zaccharie Risacher added 19 points, six rebounds, two steals and a pair of blocks.
After trailing by as many as 12 points during the fourth quarter, the Hawks made a strong comeback late in the period. They trailed Detroit 135-130 with 3:40 remaining when Young connected with Clint Capela, who finished with a two-handed dunk. Two possessions later, Dyson Daniels (24 points) recorded a steal to tie the game at 135. On Atlanta's next possession, Young gave the Hawks a 138-137 lead with 1:53 left with a 3-point field goal.
With the Pistons down by one (140-139), Dennis Schröder drilled a clutch floater to give Detroit a 142-140 lead. Schröder had his best performance since joining the Pistons on Feb. 6 with 16 points and seven assists.
From the opening tip, it was evident Cunningham was in a zone against the Hawks.
For the first time in his career, he achieved a double-double in the first half, scoring 28 points and recording 10 assists. He contributed 18 points during the second quarter, helping the Pistons bounce back from a subpar performance in the first quarter. As a result of his impressive play, Detroit held a 76-68 lead at halftime.
What made Cunningham's performance more impressive was his sizzling shooting from behind the arc, where he made 6 of 8 3-point field goals. During the first two quarters, he was the only Piston who scored in double figures, which encouraged Atlanta to call for double and triple teams each time he touched the ball in the third quarter.
The Hawks' defensive scheme led to an early 9-0 run, and the momentum they established helped them cut their deficit to two points (99-97) by the 3:55 mark of the period.
Atlanta's defense against Cunningham forced other Detroit players to step up. Jalen Duren and Tim Hardaway Jr. started to find their rhythm, helping the Pistons maintain their momentum. They outscored the Hawks 13-6 to close the quarter, taking a 112-103 lead.
With six dimes, Duren posted his sixth consecutive game of recording five or more assists to go along with 13 points and five rebounds. Hardaway added 18 points. Ausar Thompson added 14 points and three steals. Tobias Harris finished with 12 points, while Malik Beasley scored 24 off the bench.
Observations and notes vs. Hawks
— Half a dozen for the Pistons: By defeating the Hawks, the Pistons extended their winning streak to six. This marks Detroit's longest winning streak since the franchise won seven consecutive games during the 2014-15 season.
— The blowout streak ends: The Pistons' blowout streak ended against the Hawks. Detroit won each of its previous five games by 10 or more points for the first time since January 2006.
— Regular-season series ends: The Pistons ended their four-game regular-season series against the Hawks with a 3-1 record.
Clippers (31-25) at Pistons (31-26)
— Tip-off: 7 p.m. ET Monday, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.
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