Cade Cunningham is playing like a future face of the league this season and he showed that again on Monday against a really good team when they cut down the wins of surging Atlanta Hawks.
The 2025 All-Star posted 18-8-8 in the low-scoring affair with both teams finishing under 100 points. Pistons needed to squeeze everything from their 2021 first overall pick. Cunningham scored eight of the team’s final 10 points.
He also hit the difficult lay-up with 17 seconds to go to give his team a four-point cushion, 99-95. They failed to defend Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 3-point shot to get close to a one possession game with 1.8 seconds to go and then Daniss Jenkins failed to make the free throws. Hawks just ran out of time.
CADE CUNNINGHAM IS CLUTCH 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AMlBkWdKjo
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 2, 2025
“I have been, you know, shaky the last couple games in the end of the game, so I knew I had to come up big,” Cunningham said when asked about his fourth quarter performance.
“It was a tight game, we really needed this game, so glad I came through for my team.”
He now ranks second behind 2025 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when it comes to clutch shots this season.
Cade Cunningham ranks second in the NBA in clutch points. pic.twitter.com/dyc6gibfSi
— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) December 1, 2025
Cade Cunningham praises Ronald Holland II
Ron Holland II struggled in the past month to the point that some are already talking about his trade value. He made up for the low games he’s had and Cunningham is acknowledging it.
His star teammate thought he played with fire in the win.
“He’s a dawg through and through. You know, like the loose ball — there’s five people that had their hands on the ball and somehow Ron comes out with it,” Cade said.
“I mean, he’s young, he’s skinny, but he just finds a way. You know, so I could talk about him all day. He’s somebody that everybody wants to play with. We love having him on the team, and he should probably get the belt tonight. I don’t know who’s gonna get the belt, but I’ll probably say him.”
Holland II finished with 17 points in 17 minutes off the bench. He also had 6 rebounds and 2 steals.
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