Basketball
Cunningham drops career-high 52 in historic night as Pistons outlast Wizards 144-140 in double overtime
Cade Cunningham delivered the biggest night of his career, and a first in NBA history. On Thursday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, the Detroit Pistons guard scored a career-high 52 points with 11 assists, five rebounds and no turnovers in a 144-140 win over the Wizards in double overtime. According to OptaSTATS, he is the first player ever to record at least 50 points and 10 assists without a single turnover since turnovers began being tracked in 1977-78. The win was Detroit's second straight against Washington.
A scorching finish
Cunningham had only 22 points after three quarters, then he caught fire: 18 points in the fourth quarter and 30 combined across the fourth quarter and both overtimes. The Wizards extended the game twice with last-second shots, forcing Cunningham to play an extra 10 minutes. In the final minute, his baseline jumper made it 142-138 with 25.3 seconds left, and Detroit held on. The 25-year-old finished the night shooting a remarkable 16 of 25 from the field, including 3 of 5 from three-point range and 17 of 18 from the free-throw line, in nearly 48 minutes on the floor. He also added one steal and one block, completing a spotless stat line.
A record nearly fifty years in the making
Cunningham's previous career high was 46 points, set just over a year ago, also against Washington. This time he tied the fourth-highest scoring total in Pistons history, matching George Yardley's 52 points in 1958, behind Jerry Stackhouse (57 in 2001), Kelly Tripucka (56 in 1983) and Dave Bing (54 in 1971). He also became the third Pistons player ever with a 50-point double-double, after Yardley and Blake Griffin in 2018-19, and only the fifth player since 1977-78 to combine a 50-point double-double with zero turnovers, alongside Michael Jordan, Moses Malone, Carmelo Anthony and Giannis Antetokounmpo. It was also the fourth 50-point game of the NBA season and the first by a Pistons player since Malachi Flynn in 2024.
Thompson, the night's other hero
Cunningham did not carry Detroit alone. Ausar Thompson recorded the first triple-double of his career with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, precious support in a game where every possession mattered. After the game, Cunningham summed up his night simply: it was, in his words, the best he has ever done it in his NBA career. Named to the All-NBA first team in 2026, the guard is confirming his place among the league's elite players. The Pistons, winners of two straight against Washington, keep building around their 25-year-old star.