Tim Hardaway provides big scoring lift in return to lineup
Cade Cunningham secured his seventh triple-double of the season in the Detroit Pistons ’ 123-114 win over the Toronto Raptors .
Cunningham had 17 of Detroit’s season-high 35 assists to go with 22 points and 10 rebounds. One of the reasons the game remained close until the final stretch of the fourth quarter, however, is that Cunningham nearly made it a quadruple-double. He had eight turnovers on the night, and I think it is fair to classify several of them as head-scratching.
Still, Cunningham stayed true to his game and dipped into his diverse bag to give the Raptors fits all night. He could get the off-the-dribble three, he could drive to the rim, he could curl around for a soft baseline 12-footer, he could break down his defender, get him off balance, and get into the paint for a pull-up. He had it all going.
The Pistons needed it. The Raptors continued a recent string of hot-shooting games. Toronto was above 50% from deep before wilting in the fourth quarter and ran up and down to the tune of 27 fastbreak points.
The Pistons’ turnovers certainly helped, but every time they allowed the Raptors to get right back even with them, they were able to find an answer. Tim Hardaway Jr scored 27 points and hit seven of his eight threes after missing a couple of games due to injury. Malik Beasley scored 18 off the bench and hit four of his five treys. Tobias Harris also continued a string of strong play since Jaden Ivey’s injury, scoring 17 points and adding seven rebounds.
The Pistons were up by four with 2:35 in the third quarter and Cade Cunningham sat down. It felt like the game was going to turn one way or the other during the crucial phase with Detroit’s star on the bench.
Detroit responded well, with Marcus Sasser scoring five quick points and Simone Fontecchio hitting a 3 to put the Pistons up eight.
The Pistons also had the ball for the final shot, and as is often the case, JB Bickerstaff brought Cade back into the game to inbound with three seconds left.
An inexplicable cross-court pass was intercepted by Jamal Shead, who passed it to Kelly Olynyk, who then fed it to Bruce Brown for the layup.
Pistons were still up six, but that one hurt. With Cade back on the bench for his final breather, the Raptors then scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter and took the lead 100-99.
Enter Cunningham.
Cade hit the floor and immediately worked the ball into the paint, drawing several defenders. Cunningham calmly kicked it out to Isaiah Stewart for an easy 12-footer.
On the next possession, Cunningham blocked a Scottie Barnes drive. Then, as the Pistons worked the ball back up the floor, Cunningham saw Beef Stew had great position down low and found him for another easy bucket.
After the Pistons forced another Raptors miss, Cunningham skyed for a contested rebound and hit a pullup three-pointer to put the Pistons back up six.
Detroit looked like they were about to seal away the win, but Cunningham then took a shot to the groin that hobbled him. The Pistons only had two timeouts so they tried to play through the injury, but a clearly impacted Cade weakly passed the ball and turned it over, which was then turned into a Bruce Brown dunk.
Detroit responded with a Beasley three (off a Cade assist, of course), and sat Cade back down. That again allowed the Raptors to get back into the game.
With Cade back on the floor for the final four minutes, Detroit went on a 12-5 run to put the game away.
In the battle of 2021 top-5 picks, Cunningham bested Barnes. The Raptors forward struggled, shooting 5-of-14 from the floor, scoring 16 points.
Toronto was led by 25 points from Immanuel Quickley and also got a boost from Chris Boucher and Gradey Dick, who knocked down four three-pointers apiece.
The win puts Detroit back above .500, and the team will take a short trip to New York to face the Knicks on Monday. They then get a couple of days off before returning home and hosting the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns on Thursday and Saturday.