Cade Cunningham Just Broke Dave Bing’s Record. Leave the Man Alone.

Cade Cunningham dropped 45 points to break Dave Bing’s Pistons playoff scoring record, and Detroit survived to force Game 6. If you’ve been hating on Cade all series, it’s time to put that energy away — the man is a superstar, and last night he proved it when it mattered most.

Cade Did What You Asked — Now What’s the Excuse?

45 points. 5-for-8 from three. 14 trips to the free throw line. The closer in the final five minutes when the Pistons needed every bucket. Cade Cunningham went out and had the game everyone’s been begging him to have, and somehow there’s still going to be a legion of doubters ready to tear him apart if Game 6 goes sideways.

Let’s be crystal clear: Cade Cunningham is a superstar in this league. Not a star. A superstar. He’s 25 years old, he just broke Dave Bing’s franchise playoff scoring record, and he carried a team that has no business being in a playoff series to within two games of the second round.

The turnovers have been a problem — six last night, and we’ve seen worse. But when your guy goes for 45 on 72% true shooting and closes the game himself, you don’t get to nitpick. You say thank you and move on.

Ausar Thompson Is the Non-Negotiable

Here’s the thing about last night’s win: as great as Cade was, the Pistons don’t pull that off without Ausar Thompson playing out of his mind. Five field goal attempts. Six points. And somehow he still put up 15 boards, six assists, two blocks, and five steals. That’s a four-by-five stat line on five shots.

Ausar is what he is. He’s not magically going to become a 38% three-point shooter. That’s fine. What he does is perfect for winning basketball. You have to have an Ausar Thompson to win a championship. Period. End of story.

If this kid ever develops any type of consistent offensive game, he’s going to be a perennial All-NBA type of player. But right now, the defense and playmaking are enough. He’s a non-negotiable piece of this team’s future.

The Unsung Heroes: Tobias Harris and Caris LeVert

Can we finally put the Tobias Harris hate to rest? The man has been putting in work all series — solid 15 and 7 a game, playing his ass off on both ends, and not settling for bad shots. Last night he had 23 points and actually challenged Paolo Banchero at times. That’s all you can ask.

Tobias is a pro. He’s a playoff performer. He had one bad series in Philly and suddenly everyone labeled him a dropper. Every other year of his career, the man shows up when it matters. Same goes for Caris LeVert, who was spectacular defensively and has been doing exactly what the team needs offensively — no forced shots, no turnovers, just solid basketball.

These are the guys who know their roles and execute. You’re not asking Tobias to give you 25 every night. You’re asking him to back down a guard on a switch and hit that little middy. He does that. Consistently.

Duncan Robinson and the Three-Point Shooting Reality

Here’s a wild stat from last night: only two Pistons made multiple three-pointers. Cade and Duncan. That’s it. Duncan went 3-for-6 from deep, which is exactly what you need from him. Could use more — we’d love to see him go 5-for-5 — but 50% from three is doing your job.

And can we talk about Duncan getting into it with Desmond Bane? The “flopping ass” moment was chef’s kiss. Bane is a rat — the foul baiting, that thin mustache, the whole act. You’d love him if he was on your team, but he’s not, so watching Duncan check him was satisfying as hell.

Detroit Fans Need to Show Up

This series is going back to Orlando for Game 6, and here’s the uncomfortable truth: Orlando is about to put Detroit to shame when it comes to fan atmosphere. Empty seats at a playoff game. Towels still sitting on chairs because people couldn’t be bothered to show up on time. That’s embarrassing.

Nobody is from Orlando. The Magic’s owners aren’t even from Orlando — shoutout to the DeVos family and their Van Rapids money. And yet that arena is going to be absolutely rocking while Detroit fans sit at home complaining about ticket prices.

Look, not everyone can afford playoff tickets. That’s real. But if you can and you’re not there? Wave the damn towel. Put on the shirt. Be a fan. Because right now, Detroit is getting clowned by a city that’s basically a theme park with a basketball team.

The 2003 Parallel Is Real — Sort Of

Everyone wants to compare this run to 2003, and there are some similarities. Young team, unexpected playoff success, needing everything to break right. But here’s the difference: where’s the Tayshaun Prince on this bench? Ron Holland got another DNP. The depth just isn’t there the way it was for that championship team.

This Pistons team will go as far as Ausar can take them defensively and as far as Cade can take them offensively. That’s the reality. And when both of those guys are cooking like they were last night, this team can beat anyone. But asking for that every single game is a lot.

Mo Wagner being back was huge — Orlando’s whole season rides on his availability, and he missed 50 games this year. The Magic made the all-in move to get Desmond Bane, and their fortunes are tied to keeping their core healthy. Not exactly an enviable position for them either.

What Needs to Happen Friday

Game 6 is simple: Cade needs to be Cade. Get to the rim, get to the line, and let the threes come within the flow of the offense. The five turnovers or six turnovers range is survivable. Nine is not. The Pistons can win with Cade having a couple bad possessions as long as he’s aggressive and decisive.

Ausar needs to keep doing Ausar things. Tobias and Caris need to keep being pros. Duncan needs to hit his open looks. And Jalen Duren — man, Duren needs to figure something out. The guy had wide-open dunks last night and dribbled out to the perimeter. If you get an offensive rebound under the rim, put that thing down. No more finesse.

The Pistons are still alive. They shouldn’t be, but they are. And if Cade keeps playing like the superstar he is, anything can happen.

The Takeaways

• Cade Cunningham is a superstar — 45 points, Dave Bing’s record broken, and he closed the game himself
• Ausar Thompson is a non-negotiable piece for any championship run with his elite defense and playmaking
• Tobias Harris and Caris LeVert are pros who show up in the playoffs — the hate needs to stop
• Detroit fans getting embarrassed by Orlando’s atmosphere is inexcusable
• This series comes down to Cade and Ausar both playing at their peak — and that’s a lot to ask every night

Watch the full segment on YouTube: CADE CUNNINGHAM IS HIM | Big D Energy | Thursday, April 30th, 2026