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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
After the game, Cunningham insisted he and his side had proved “nothing” yet.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“We’re off to a great start. Obviously, we feel great about that. But everything is to come.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
– ‘First game back’ –<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Jaylen Brown recorded a triple-double as the in-form Boston Celtics overwhelmed the Golden State Warriors 121-110.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Thursday’s games were the first since the NBA regular season briefly paused for the All-Star Game weekend.<\/p>\n
“It’s early, first game back,” said Brown.<\/p>\n
“I’m just being aggressive, finding my spots,” he added.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Kevin Durant managed 35 points in the Houston Rockets’ 105-101 victory over the Hornets.<\/p>\n
In the West,\u00a0the Sacramento Kings set an unwanted franchise record with a\u00a015-game losing streak, after going down 131-94 to the Orlando Magic.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Spurs’ seventh consecutive win takes them to 39-16, still trailing the Thunder on 42-14.<\/p>\n
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