Motor Cade City

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

The NBA on ESPN is happening now, and we're here for all of it. From the superstar moves to the next-gen revolution.

Cade Cunningham (0:12)

Bam!

SPEAKER_1 (0:13)

We don't just live it, we love it, because the NBA is a world of its own.

SPEAKER_2 (0:30)

Welcome to NBA Today with Malika Andrews, live from Los Angeles.

Malika Andrews (0:36)

Hey now, Detroit, coming up here on NBA Today, Cade Cunningham. He did something that has been never done before in NBA history. So where do the Pistons fall in a stacked Eastern conference? And we do have the latest on Austin Reaves, his heel injury, and how long the Lakers can expect to be without him. We discuss how that will impact the West. Plus, it is another NBA Cup night, so that means that Wemby and the Spurs, they're taking on the Stefflis Warriors. We have live reports out of San Antonio NBA Today on a Feel Good Friday. Starts right now and guess who's back.

Wait, Chuck doesn't give you a round of applause when you walk into studio?

Kenny Smith (1:19)

He gives me a round. I can't even say that anymore.

Charles Barkley (1:25)

It's a little more vertical these days.

Malika Andrews (1:33)

We start today's show with one of the best early games we have seen this season. Cheney, Tim McMahon, it is the Pistons and the Wizards. Who would have thought that that's what we were talking about when we said one of the best early games.

We picked this up with four minutes ago. Cade Cunningham gets this one to go here. Pistons up by six. Cade scored 18 in the fourth quarter alone. Under a minute to go. This was a little bit of a scary moment here, Tim McMahon. He goes down.

Tim MacMahon (1:58)

I mean, the blood trickling here.

This looks like special effects. That's not something you want to see in an NBA flu.

Malika Andrews (2:04)

Well, he would stay in the game. And this is pivotal. Yeah, it was getting chilly there in the district. So, to overtime we go.

Cade Cunningham (2:23)

Under a minute to play here.

Malika Andrews (2:27)

Knocks down the triple. The game tied at 130 Ensuing Washington possession here. Trey, going to work. Misses the floater here. And here come the Detroit Pistons.

Uh-oh.

Chiney Ogwumike (2:39)

Can't leave him open.

Malika Andrews (3:07)

So one overtime is not enough to double overtime. We go. Cade Cunningham, he proved to be just a little bit too much here for the Washington Wizards. Hits the three. By the way, that gave him 50 He becomes the third piston to have a 50 ball, but he wasn't done here. Couple little pump aches.

Chiney Ogwumike (3:23)

No one can guard him, Malika.

Malika Andrews (3:24)

That is exactly right. He finished with 52 points, 11 assists, and he fueled this awesome double overtime win. Now, Cade Cunningham, I mean, he felt the spirit of go-go music on Thursday. He took over in the district and he made history. 52 points, as I mentioned. 11 dimes. Chiney, no turnovers. It's the first time in NBA history anybody has had a 50-10 game without a turnover. So here's Cade Cunningham on that masterclass.

Cade Cunningham (3:52)

It was the best I've ever done in my NBA career, for sure.

No, I think it's just a testament to the work. Got a good ball, glory to God, first and foremost, but it's a testament to the work. And my teammates trusted me with the ball. I've had plenty of bad games where it doesn't look like this, but all those are lessons that led to it and kind of lead to this, so. Just got to keep going.

SPEAKER_7 (4:18)

We will keep going, but that was a heck of a performance.

Malika Andrews (4:20)

It's still early, but the East is, it's fluid, Chiney. It's very fluid through the first quarter of the season here. The Celtics, the Sixers, the Pistons, they have the top three records, but 4th or 11th, they're all separated by just three games. So naturally it's time to make some big proclamations in November. That's the time to do it, right? Let's talk a little bit of big picture east here, Kenny. When you see Detroit, are there tiers, do you put them in that top tier in the east?

Kenny Smith (4:49)

Well, we don't know.

Even when I watch in this game, I would say it's a bigger loss for Washington and a big win, because when you're not at full strength, you're trying to steal games until the Pistons get at full strength, when Durin comes back and everyone's fully acclimated. But when you're full-streaking, you're four and seven, and you're trying to get the, you're trying to be a team that's actually supposed to be a sleeper team that people aren't expecting to get into the playoff. The Wizards, that's a bigger loss for the Wizards than to have one guy to have that type of game when you have your full strength. I think it's a bigger loss for the Wizards than actually the win for the Pistons.