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The Detroit Pistons squeaked out a win on the road against the Toronto Raptors thanks to the late-game heroics of Cade Cunningham. The first overall pick from the 2021 draft only scored 10 points on 4-10 shooting but he scored seven of those points late in the fourth quarter. He helped the Pistons regain and keep the lead as they won their third game of the season.
Far from a signature game by Cade Cunningham but the No. 1 pick once again made big shots down the stretch for the Pistons, including 7 PTS in the final 5 MIN in a win over Toronto. Tough move & finish here against 6-8, 230-pound OG Anunoby. Getting more comfortable by the game. pic.twitter.com/BMevbrOcSR
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) November 14, 2021
Head coach Dwane Casey heaped praise on Cunningham for being so happy about the victory despite not having the flashiest stat line.
#Pistons Dwane Casey on Cade Cunningham driving: "It says a lot about him because in the locker room, he was one of the happiest guys. Any superstar scoring 10 points would be crying in his milk — he was happy with the (win)."
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) November 14, 2021
Cunningham is expected to be more than just the centerpiece for Detroit's rebuild. As the point guard of the team, it's important for him to exude leadership qualities. He hasn't yet tapped into his sky-high potential but he can still be a positive presence in the locker room.
Becoming a leader is one of the most important things Cunningham can do in his rookie season. Establishing himself as a leader for the team will greatly help them find an identity moving forward. The Pistons are likely to lose a lot this season — they're one of four teams with under four wins so far — so figuring out who they'll be and who will lead them in the future is key.
While Cunningham may not be posting the stat lines that other rookies like Scottie Barnes and Evan Mobley are, he still has plenty of time to adjust to the professional level and contend for the Rookie of the Year award. He is currently averaging 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists on 31.5 percent shooting.
Jerami Grant scored 24 points and Isaiah Stewart scored 20 points in the Pistons' victory. Detroit's next game is back home against the Sacramento Kings on Monday.
