Cade Cunningham demands respect from the rest of the league after win over Celtics

In a stunning showcase of talent, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham made a statement to the NBA on Monday night, asserting that his team deserves widespread recognition after a stunning 104-103 victory over the Boston Celtics. The win, one of the most compelling of Detroit’s season, reinforced the Pistons’ claim as a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.

The game unfolded as a tense, back-and-forth affair at Little Caesars Arena, with neither team able to build decisive momentum. Boston’s Jaylen Brown, who put up 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, had a chance to snatch the lead in the final seconds but saw his potential game-winner rim out as time expired. Boston’s furious late push fell just short, leaving the Pistons to celebrate another signature road triumph.

While Detroit’s victory came by the narrowest of margins, it was a signature moment in the Pistons’ ascent this season. Tobias Harris led the team with 25 points, and big man Jalen Duren contributed a robust 18 points and nine boards. Cunningham, dealing with a lingering wrist issue, finished with a modest 16 points but dished out 14 assists without a turnover.

“He’s a class act. It’s the competition I love”

After the buzzer, Cunningham was quick to reflect on the significance of the result: “More than anything, you want respect from your peers,” he said. “Yeah, it means a lot. I think it just is a testament to the amount of success we’ve had as a team. I think the league has to respect that. You know, being number one team in the East, night in and night out, finding ways to get wins.”

The Pistons now enjoy a season-high 5½-game lead atop the East standings.

“To be on top of someone’s scouting report offensively is impressive and then take the responsibility of guarding the other side’s top [offensive player], I got a lot of respect for that,” Cunningham said on how well his opponent Jalen Brown handled the offensive attention with Tatum out. “He’s a class act. It’s the competition I love. He’s one of the better ones.”

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff also spoke after the game: “Anytime you get an opportunity to play one of the better teams in the league, it tests your mettle a little bit, and it’s how you sharpen your tools. You could tell both teams really wanted it. They raised the level of intensity and they were battling. It’s a great experience for our guys.”

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