Pistons guard Cade Cunningham opens sixth season with two wins
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham scored 22 points in a 121-113 season-opening win over the Celtics.
He then had 16 points and eight assists as Detroit beat Miami 128-111.
Background
Cade Cunningham is the Detroit Pistons' star point guard, now in his sixth NBA season and the team's main ball-handler and playmaker. He has averaged better than 9.0 assists per game in each of the last two seasons, and Detroit opened this season with a question about who besides him will generate offense. Cunningham told local Detroit stations he starts this season a better player and person because of injuries and losses in Detroit, saying "the best growth happens during adversity."
How it unfolded
- Oct 20, 2026In the season opener, Cunningham scored 22 points with eight assists and four rebounds as the Pistons beat the Celtics 121-113 in Detroit.
- Oct 20, 2026Cunningham gave interviews to Local 4 and 7 News Detroit about the Pistons' turnaround and the 2026-27 season.
- Oct 23, 2026Cunningham had 16 points, eight assists and three blocks in 30 minutes in a 128-111 win over the Heat; Jalen Duren (thigh) and Ausar Thompson (undisclosed) both exited and did not return.
Who’s saying what
- Player
- Cunningham said "the best growth happens during adversity," calling himself a better player and person after injuries and losses in Detroit.
- Opponent
- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Cunningham isn't necessarily a bad ball-handler but commits a lot of turnovers because he almost always has the ball in his hands.