NBA: Cunningham scores ۵۲ as Pistons win double OT thriller against Wizards

Cunningham became the first NBA player to record a ۵۰-point, ۱۰-assist game without committing a turnover since ۱۹۷۷-۷۸.

Cade Cunningham racked up ۵۲ points as the Detroit Pistons edged a double-overtime thriller ۱۴۴-۱۴۰ against Washington on Thursday.

The Wizards twice extended the game with clutch scores in the dying seconds but could not repeat the trick a third time as the Pistons held their nerve to claim an epic road win.

Cunningham became the first player in NBA history to score ۵۰ points and add ۱۰ assists with zero turnovers, while Ausar Thompson had a triple-double with ۱۷ points, ۱۱ assists and ۱۱ rebounds.

The Wizards had three starters scoring ۳۰-plus points – Trae Young, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr – but it was not enough to prevent Washington’s sixth defeat in a row.

“Two overtimes, it was just going to come down [to] who wanted it more, who had more in the tank,” said Cunningham.

“I’d bet on my team any day. So great win for us.”

In a back-and-forth game featuring ۲۰ lead changes, Detroit started slow but built a double-digit lead early in the second half.

It was slowly whittled down by Washington, but the Pistons were clinging to their lead when Cunningham was fouled at ۱۱۹-۱۱۸ with less than two seconds remaining.

Cunningham sank both free throws, but Trae Young made a nerveless try right at the buzzer to force overtime.

The Wizards raced ۱۲۸-۱۲۱ up, but Cunningham would not quit.

He made a three-pointer with ۳۰ seconds left to level the score, then set up Duncan Robinson for what appeared to be another. A video replay ruled Robinson’s toe was on the line, and Detroit had only a two-point lead.

That proved crucial as Young set up this year’s top draft pick AJ Dybantsa, who forced a second overtime period with a pull-up jump shot.

Cunningham made a fadeaway shot for a four-point lead with ۲۵ seconds left, and this time the Wizards could not conjure a third comeback.

Young missed two three-point efforts, with Washington settling for two free throws, but unable to score in their final possession.

‘Professional win’

Tyrese Maxey powered Philadelphia to its latest comeback victory, scoring ۲۷ points as the Sixers shrugged off a slow start and the absence of LeBron James to beat the Toronto Raptors ۱۲۳-۱۱۲.

Maxey added eight assists, linking up seamlessly with Joel Embiid, who briefly left the court early with a knee injury but returned to add ۲۰ points.

The Sixers had trailed by ۱۷ points in the first quarter, immediately following Embiid’s absence, but rallied for their fifth double-digit comeback this season.

“We’ll take it. I mean, extreme professional win by us. We stayed with it. Didn’t start out great, but it was a good win,” said Maxey.

“We played together the last seven years, so I kind of know where he’s going to be, he knows where I’m going to be at, and it’s good for us,” he said of his partnership with ۲۰۲۳ MVP Embiid.

Veteran James, who turns ۴۲ next month, was ruled out of Thursday’s clash to manage a lower back issue.

Philadelphia moved to ۱۰-۳, just half a game back from the ۱۰-۲ Boston Celtics atop the Eastern Conference.

The Minnesota Timberwolves thrashed Dallas ۱۳۳-۹۴, while Devin Booker’s ۳۰ points helped the Phoenix Suns overcome Charlotte ۱۰۱-۹۶.