Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles on Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Pistons' Cade Cunningham bolsters MVP case in big win over Thunder

By Sean Keane | Last updated Feb 25, 2026 11:15 PM ET

Cade Cunningham had a tough shooting night Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He bounced back in a big way in a 124-116 win over the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Detroit Pistons All-Star scored 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting Wednesday, going 3-of-5 from three-point range and making all four of his free throws. His team is now just one half-game behind the Thunder for the NBA's best record, and Cunningham is a serious MVP candidate.

Cade Cunningham does it all for the Pistons

The Thunder were missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the incumbent Most Valuable Player, along with All-Stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. The Pistons still needed a lot from their star to get past the shorthanded Thunder.

Cunningham dished out 13 assists, grabbed five boards and added three steals and blocks. These weren't cheap assists, either. Every one of Cunningham's dimes got his teammates a layup, a dunk or a three-pointer. Detroit only made nine threes — with three made by Cunningham, and four off of his passes.

Cade for three pic.twitter.com/Og3HtyMzLl
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 26, 2026

The biggest issue that Cunningham had on Wednesday was turnovers. He committed eight of them, though he made up for one of them by getting back and blocking Cason Wallace at the rim.

Block number three ✅ pic.twitter.com/TTGQjHLOnk
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 26, 2026

Cunningham could become the Pistons' first MVP

The Pistons have never had a player win NBA MVP, despite winning three titles. Cunningham finished seventh in last year's vote and has a compelling case this season.

No one in the NBA has more assists than Cunningham. He's getting 1.5 steals per game and averages 25.4 points. His team is five games clear of the second-place Boston Celtics and could have the NBA's best record if the Thunder slip up at all with SGA out.

He could also benefit from the NBA's 65-game requirement to receive awards and honors. SGA has missed 11 of his allowed 17 games, and he's still injured. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic has missed 16 games. Luka Doncic has missed 12 games, and Victor Wembanyama has missed 14.

Cunningham has missed only seven games. His season is already impressive, but if his team keeps winning big games, Cunningham could well be the best among a diminished field of candidates and take home Detroit's first Michael Jordan Trophy.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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