Cade Cunningham validated his All-Star selection with a 40-point eruption. Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons will try for an encore performance when they host Chicago on Sunday afternoon.
Cunningham’s outburst lifted the Pistons to a 117-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. He was selected by the conference’s coaches as an All-Star reserve, which was revealed the previous night.
“I think he has a great understanding of the moment … to be voted as an All-Star last night and then to come out and have this performance, the point is proven,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Friday. “He understands that, and he has the ability to act on it, and that’s what I think is most impressive. Some people might be aware of the situation, but to have the ability to go out and function at the level that he functioned at was impressive.”
The Pistons snapped a three-game losing streak in the first of six consecutive home games. Detroit, which won just 14 games last season, had a 10-6 record in January.
“It’s everything that we wanted,” Cunningham said. “We looked at the month of January and set out to dominate the month. I think we still dropped a couple games that we would’ve liked to have, but I think it was a great month as far as people being engaged and locked in on the game plan. It’s a good feeling. Now on to February.”
While point guard Cunningham has carried the team, center Jalen Duren has been a steadying force inside. He has recorded double-doubles in seven of the last eight games, including a 16-point, 13-rebound outing against the Mavericks.
“He’s a very good all-around basketball player, and I think over the past month he’s found the consistent button and been impactful for us,” Bickerstaff said.
The Bulls, who didn’t have any players chosen for the All-Star Game, defeated Toronto, 122-106, on Friday. Chicago is using a small lineup with four guards.
It worked well against the rebuilding Raptors, as the Bulls shot 50.6 percent from the field and assisted on 34 of their 45 field goals.
Leading scorer Zach LaVine missed the contest due to the birth of his child. LaVine and center Nikola Vucevic could be on the move before Thursday’s trade deadline. Vucevic had 21 points and 12 rebounds against Toronto.
“I think we did a better job trying to find him than we did in previous games,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “I thought he had everything kind of going. With Zach being out, we need him to do more of that.”
Lottery pick Matas Buzelis notched his second straight 12-point game. He also had seven rebounds and three blocks.
“I thought defensively (Friday), he did a lot of really spectacular things,” Donovan said. “It was hard to shoot over him. If he can stay in position and not take himself out of the possession, that gives us more rim protection.”
Chicago has won 18 of the last 20 meetings with Detroit. Vucevic racked up 29 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the Bulls’ 122-112 road win over the Pistons on Nov. 18.
–Field Level Media
