Cade Cunningham gets major props for a nice missed free throw

Cade Cunningham stunned some fans when he intentionally missed a free throw in Detroit Pistons NBA Cup match against Orlando Magic on Friday night.

Cunningham is in his fifth career season with the Pistons. He is off to a very hot start to the 2025-26 campaign, as he has helped Detroit jump to first place in the Eastern Conference standings. His performances have been outstanding, building an early MVP case for the young guard.

However, the struggle against the Magic put the Pistons in a difficult situation. Detroit trailed in the final seconds as Cunningham went to the free throw line. Needing a 3-pointer to tie the game, he deliberately missed his last attempt as he had the ball come back to him when he passed it to Duncan Robinson for a try from the center. Although the shot was unsuccessful, some noted Cunningham’s technique when he missed the free throw.

“Cade Cunningham with the BEST missed free throw in NBA history,” one he said.

“One of the best you’ll ever see,” another noticed.

Cade Cunningham with the BEST missed free throw in NBA history pic.twitter.com/4DKSke8lGKE

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) November 29, 2025

As Cade Cunningham, the Pistons played against the Magic

Cade Cunningham almost kept his team alive in the match. However, the team’s efforts fell short in a 112-109 loss to the Magic.

Both teams traded shots throughout the game, as Orlando only led 59-58 at halftime. The tempo stayed the same in the second half as the visitors made a big enough play down the stretch to stun the hosts and run away with the away win.

Steals, turnovers and inside goals made the difference in this match. The Magic dominated in all three categories, grabbing 15 steals, limiting their turnovers to just 14 and scoring 62 points in the paint. It wasn’t the same for the Pistons as they had seven steals, turned the ball over 24 times and scored 46 points inside the paint.

Three players scored in double figures for Detroit in the loss, including Cunningham. He dominated with 39 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. He shot 13 of 26 from the field, including 4 of 7 from beyond the arc and 9 of 12 from the free throw line. Tobias Harris followed with 18 points and five rebounds, while Jalen Duren had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Detroit fell to a 15-4 record on the season, but remains in first place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are one game ahead of the Toronto Raptors and two games ahead of the Miami Heat.

The Pistons will look to bounce back in their next game as they are on the road. They face the Heat on November 29th at 8:00 PM ET.