Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – A dominant Cade Cunningham scored 42 points as the NBA-leading Detroit Pistons swatted aside the New York Knicks 126-111 Thursday on the basketball league’s return from its brief All-Star Game break. Billed as a must-watch clash between two Eastern Conference-vying rivals each in red-hot form, the game at Madison Square Garden became an exhibition for Cunningham, who also provided 13 assists and eight rebounds. The 24-year-old burnished his credentials as a Most Valuable Player contender, helping a young, surprise-package Pistons side to improve the best record in the entire NBA this season so far, to 41-13.
After the game, Cunningham insisted he and his side had proved “nothing” yet. “It’s regular season, so we just have to keep on chipping at it, keep on growing, keep on getting better and preparing for the postseason,” he said. “We’re off to a great start. Obviously, we feel great about that. But everything is to come.” Despite their blistering form, Detroit — wholly reconstructed after finishing rock-bottom of the Eastern Conference just two years ago — are still few pundits’ top pick to win the title. They were also without forward Isaiah Stewart and All-Star center Jalen Duren on Thursday, due to suspensions following a brawl with the Charlotte Hornets during game last week. “Missing Stew, JD, that’s a big part of our team. Big part of why we are where we are. So everyone had to step up,” said Cunningham.
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And the Knicks had entered the game third in the Eastern Conference, on a run of 10 wins from 12, comparable to the Pistons’ 12 from 15 ahead of Thursday’s clash. But Detroit had extra motivation — revenge after the Knicks knocked them out of the playoffs last year in the first round. The win on Thursday completes a three-win regular season sweep over the Knicks. “If felt great,” said Cunningham, who poured in three three-pointers in the first quarter alone. He added two more later in the game, with other highlights including a huge, driving dunk in the third quarter.
– ‘First game back’ – Elsewhere, Jaylen Brown recorded a triple-double as the in-form Boston Celtics overwhelmed the Golden State Warriors 121-110. Consolidating second spot in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics led by as much as 34 points in the third quarter, before the Warriors reduced the deficit but to no avail. Brown managed 23 points, 13 assists, and 15 rebounds, while Payton Pritchard top-scored with 26 from the bench, in the Celtics’ seventh win from their past eight games. Thursday’s games were the first since the NBA regular season briefly paused for the All-Star Game weekend.
“It’s early, first game back,” said Brown. “I’m just being aggressive, finding my spots,” he added. The Cleveland Cavaliers earned a sixth consecutive win. The Cavs beat the Brooklyn Nets 112-84 to draw level with the Knicks in third place. Jalen Johnson dominated a 117-107 Atlanta Hawks road win over the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 32 points, with 10 rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Kevin Durant managed 35 points in the Houston Rockets’ 105-101 victory over the Hornets.
In the West, the Sacramento Kings set an unwanted franchise record with a 15-game losing streak, after going down 131-94 to the Orlando Magic. And the second-placed San Antonio Spurs put some pressure on the leaders, Oklahoma City Thunder, with a 121-94 triumph over the Phoenix Suns. The Spurs’ seventh consecutive win takes them to 39-16, still trailing the Thunder on 42-14.
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