Cade Cunningham averages 25-8-8 in first playoff series, joins Luka Doncic and Oscar Robertson

“I think at the same time, we proved that to the rest of the league as well that when they come play Detroit, it’s going to be a dogfight and you’re going to have to come play the whole 48 and if you get up early on, we’re going to find our way back into the game and give ourselves a shot to win every night. So I think that’s the thing that the whole league has taken notice, too, and just the belief in the locker room has grown a ton.”
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What’s the buzz on Twitter?

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Diving into the Lakers offseason, with @jovanbuha, at @TheAthletic
* Intel on LeBron scenarios (including non-Lakers)
* Luka’s contract options, and long-term vision
* The pressure (again) that’s on Rob Pelinka to find a big man
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Jalen Brunson is averaging 30.5 points in the 30 playoff games he’s played with the Knicks.
Only five other players in NBA history have averaged more than 30 points in their first 30 playoff games for a franchise:
MJ
Wilt
Baylor
Luka
Kareem –

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Cade Cunningham: “We’ll Come Back Stronger” –

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STORY: Cade Cunningham, know future bright even after defeat.
“We will be back and better,” Cunningham said.
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“Helping my teammates succeed. That’s the thing I get the most joy from.”
Cade Cunningham on what he’s most proud of this season. –

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Shoutout to the The Pistons on a hell of a season. And salute to the rising young Superstar Cade who is flat out Special!!! They definitely put the world on notice 💯 –

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FINAL: Knicks 116, Pistons 113.
Knicks win the series, 4-2.
• Brunson 40-4-7, GW shot with 4.3 seconds to go
• Bridges 25-4-3
• Anunoby 22 & 5
• Hart 13-10-4
• Cunningham 23-7-8
Knicks move on to play Boston in the second round. –

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Cade’s year four:
— 26.1 PPG
— 6.1 RPG
— 9.1 APG
— 1.0 SPG
Took the Pistons from last season’s 14 wins to the playoffs. –

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Jalen Brunson has the same number of 40-point playoff games as
Luka Doncic
Steph Curry
Devin Booker –

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The Knicks keep daring Cade to take the 3’s. And he’s 0-7 as they go under every screen –

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Cade not confident in his 3 ball at all. OG is trying to go under on him at the FT line and Cade still not taking it. –

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Luka didn’t have the series he needed to have against Minnesota. I can acknowledge that. I’m just saying I’m seeing a lot of really definitive takes about what his future holds and what kind of players he is today that I don’t think are going to look great a few years from now. –

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Here’s a summary of today’s end-of-season press conference from Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick, plus some quotes from LeBron and Luka:
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Looks like Luka is getting post-Blazers series Harden treatment now about his defense. –

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The Starting Lineup gets all the exclusive press conference 🤣🤣
@TheFrankIsola and @Scalabrine on the reaction in Dallas after Luka and the Lakers were eliminated 🤣 –

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Column: In their first playoff run together, the Lakers’ Luka Doncic & LeBron James didn’t live up to the hype
@washingtonpost @PostSports
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Pelinka then added how excited he is to build a roster around Luka Doncic moving forward, while acknowledging that after the trade deadline, it was a bit like trying to build an airplane in the sky.
“When you make a huge trade at the deadline where you trade your starting center –

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Lakers will be fine. Folks are prisoners of the moment now a days more than ever. They have an offseason to build a complimentary roster around Luka and a coach who will learn from this as well. –

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Despite the first round exit and less than stellar performances to varying degrees for all three, Rob Pelinka has made it clear several times today that he believes in the core of LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as the leaders of this team heading into next season –

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Pelinka then added how excited he is to build a roster around Luka Doncic moving forward, while acknowledging that after the trade deadline, it was a bit like trying to build an airplane in the sky.
“This roster needs more size at the center position. That’s clearly a byproduct –

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Rob Pelinka says his faith in Luka, LeBron and Austin as a core is unwavering, and that they’ll work this offseason to put a better-fitting roster around them. AK –

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Rob Pelinka says trying to rebuild the roster in-season after the Doncic trade is like “trying to build an airplane in the sky.” He says a primary goal for the offseason is to add size at the center position. –

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During his end of season remarks, Rob Pelinka acknowledges the disappointment of not hanging a banner, but reflects on the excitement of the season finding a coach like JJ Redick and trading for Luka Doncic. –

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LeBron James on retirement: ‘I don’t know the answer to that right now’
LeBron played at an All-NBA level this season, was energized by playing with Bronny and the Luka Doncic trade, and with that he’s expected to return for season 23.
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Guard matchup this playoffs:
Brunson — Cade —
29.8 PPG 25.4 PPG
8.4 APG 8.6 RPG
2.4 3PM 8.8 APG –

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Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels wins NBA Most Improved Player Award.
My top 3 votes:
1. Christian Braun (Denver Nuggets).
2. Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons).
3. Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets). –

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Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, the NBA announced. Daniels, in his third season, averaged 14.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.0 steals in his first year as a full-time starter.
Ivica Zubac (Clippers) and Cade Cunningham –

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Cade Cunningham is having a historic start to his playoff career 📈 –

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MIP candidates improvement from last season:
Cade —
+3.4 PPG
+1.8 RPG
+1.6 APG
Dyson —
+8.3 PPG
+1.7 APG
+1.6 SPG
Zubac —
+5.1 PPG
+3.4 RPG
+1.3 APG
Who deserves to win it? –

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Cade Cunningham scored or assisted on 15 of the Pistons final 18 points. In a raucous MSG too. 🥶 –

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Young mistake from Cade there. Gotta know Hart is side-stepping to the right in transition. –

More on this storyline

Jorge Sierra: . He passed Luka Doncic in assists at No. 80. -via / May 2, 2025

Dončić also could choose to play out his contract, opt out after 2025-26 and then re-sign for five years, $296 million, or sign with another team for four years, $219 million. . -via / May 2, 2025

While league and team sources say the partnership has been very positive for all parties, with the Lakers going to great lengths to make Dončić aware that they want him to lead the way in their next era, it remains unclear how the five-time All-Star will handle his contract situation. . -via / May 2, 2025

Fred Katz: . Knicks win the series, 4-2. • Brunson 40-4-7, GW shot with 4.3 seconds to go • Bridges 25-4-3 • Anunoby 22 & 5 • Hart 13-10-4 • Cunningham 23-7-8 Knicks move on to play Boston in the second round. -via / May 1, 2025

. But at the end of Game 5, Brunson rolled his ankle. I’ll be watching Game 6 to see if Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff targets Brunson by ramping up Hardaway’s role as a screener or by replacing him with someone who will make Brunson move his feet on defense. A lineup of Cade Cunningham, Dennis Schroder, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren lacks shooting, but it would force Brunson to either guard the ball (Schroder) or box out someone much bigger than him (Thompson). Either way, it could work in Detroit’s favor. -via / May 1, 2025

Kendrick Perkins: “Now, where should he go? That’s another story. Because what I’ma pitch out there real quick is: Giannis got it out the mud, where he was brought up. I don’t think he really gives a f*** about bright lights and big cities. Giannis is about winning, right?” “And if you’re looking out there and you’re searching and you’re saying— ‘Cause Giannis is not friendly either. He ain’t with all that extra friendly s*** and all that other s*** either. So, we know that.” “But, I’m looking at two spots if I’m Giannis: . Listen, I’m just telling you. I’m just telling you—that’s what I’m looking at.” -via / April 30, 2025