Pistons' Cade Cunningham sets career high, makes NBA history

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles defended by Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Pistons' Cade Cunningham sets career high, makes NBA history with sensational performance

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Nov 12, 2026 10:48 PM ET

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The Detroit Pistons may very well have the best point guard in the NBA.

Former No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham has only gotten better each season and his performance in a double overtime win on Thursday showed that he may still be getting better in his sixth season.

Thursday was the best game of Cade Cunningham's NBA career

Cunningham scored a career-high 52 points on an efficient 16-of-25 shooting night from the field. He collected five rebounds, dished out 11 assists and did not have a single turnover.

Those stats put Cunningham in a category of his own and he did something that had never been done before. Cunningham became the first player in NBA history to have a game with at least 50 points, at least 10 assists and no turnovers.

It was the exact type of performance that Detroit envisioned when it drafted Cunningham with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

52 POINTS FOR CADE CUNNINGHAM.

HE EXTENDS DETROIT'S LEAD TO 4 LATE IN 2OT! pic.twitter.com/MNtmgqUBVn
— NBA (@NBA) November 13, 2026

HISTORY FOR CADE

Cade Cunningham is the first player in NBA HISTORY with 50 points, 10 assists and 0 turnovers in a game since individual turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78. pic.twitter.com/9YY2vrlcMf
— ESPN (@espn) November 13, 2026

Detroit will once again be atop the Eastern Conference

After spending most of the 2025-26 season as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, it appears the Pistons will once again be competing for the top seed.

Detroit improved to 8-3 after Thursday's win and it's played almost the entire season without All-NBA and All-Star caliber center Jalen Duren. He is currently sidelined with a hamstring strain that is likely going to keep him out until late November or early December.

The duo of Cunningham and Duren was nearly unstoppable last season and there's no reason that won't be the case when Duren returns to the court. If that remains true, Detroit will once again be competing for the No. 1 seed and home court advantage when the playoffs begin.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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