JB Bickerstaff calls Cade Cunningham a ‘bad man’

Final score Monday night 114-106 for Detroit Pistons they recorded their third consecutive win over the Memphis Grizzlies. After a competitive back-and-forth matchup, the Pistons pulled away thanks to late-game heroics from their own All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham.

The Detroit player finished the night with 33 points, eight assists and five rebounds. However, he did his most important work in the fourth quarter, scoring 19 goals in the final period. Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff had many praises his starting quarterback for an impressive postgame performance.

“He’s a bad guy, and that’s it. When it’s time to win, you’ve got to have a guy like that on your team, and we’re extremely lucky to have him. There’s not a play he can’t make,” Bickerstaff explained. “He’s got grit in his bones to make those shots and make those shots. Obviously, 19 points in the quarter to close the game was the game down the stretch for us. You saw how spectacular he was tonight.”

Cunningham is emerging as one of the best players in the NBA. He averaged 12.3 points in the fourth quarter to help the Pistons. There was a common theme that Cunningham was slowly starting to score. Detroit has been able to keep most games in striking distance late, which allows its star quarterback to help seal the deal.

Cunningham finished efficiently, hitting 12 of 20 field goal attempts and 3 of 6 from 3-point range. He managed to stay active on the floor for 38 minutes despite playing through late foul trouble with five.

Detroit was forced to go through the contest without starting forward Tobias Harris. The 14-year-old forward played through an ankle injury he picked up during their game win in Mexico City against the Dallas Mavericks. That injury sidelined him in Memphis as the Pistons improved to 5-2 in his absence.

Utility center Isaiah Stewart started in Harris’ place and was able to fill the void in a huge way. Stewart finished the night with 26 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks. He maintained the same defensive intensity and also increased his offensive contribution. Stewart knocked down 9 of 18 shots from the field and even attempted eight 3-pointers as a spaceman for the Pistons.

Stewart was the main reason why Detroit outscored Memphis 58 to 30. Stewart’s all-around efforts helped the Pistons lead by as many as 21 points in their road game.

Center Jalen Duren and forward Ron Holland each scored 14 points to give the Pistons a boost. Forward Duncan Robinson added 11 points in 40 minutes of play.

Forward Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies in scoring with 21 points. Point guard Ja Morant recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. first game back after the team’s suspension.

There is currently no set date for Harris’ return to the Pistons lineup. Given that he was able to come back from the injury against the Mavericks and continue to play, it gives hope that the injury isn’t too serious to keep him out for long.