Cade Cunningham Earns All-Star Nod as Pistons Outlast Celtics 104–103
The news broke earlier in the day, and by nightfall, it felt fitting.
Cade Cunningham was officially named an NBA All-Star — the first of his career — and hours later, the Detroit Pistons delivered a gritty, grind-it-out 104–103 win over the Boston Celtics at Little Caesars Arena.
It wasn’t a showcase game. It wasn’t pretty.
But it was a night that captured exactly why Cunningham earned the honor — and why this Pistons group is starting to earn respect.
A Win That Matched the Moment
This game felt tense from the opening tip.
The rhythm never settled, whistles came early and often, and both teams were forced to operate in half-court mud. The officials clearly wanted this one kept under control, calling it tight and never allowing emotions or physicality to spill over.
Detroit didn’t flinch.
In a game where flow was impossible to find, the Pistons stayed composed — possession by possession — and survived.
Cade Cunningham: All-Star Impact Beyond the Box Score
This was not a shooting night Cade will want on a highlight reel.
Cunningham finished 4-for-17 from the field and 0-for-4 from three, struggling to find his touch against Boston’s pressure. But here’s the part that matters — he didn’t force it.
Instead, Cunningham adjusted. He made reads. He moved defenders. He trusted teammates.
Cade finished with 14 assists, zero turnovers, and controlled the game even when his shot abandoned him. That’s the difference between a scorer and an All-Star.
Update: Cunningham was announced ill on Wednesday morning and is currently questionable for the upcoming game against the Pelicans — something the Pistons will monitor closely.
Harris and Robinson Making an Impact
It’s easy to overlook Tobias Harris, the steady veteran, who is having a really good season in his second stint with the Pistons.
Harris was outstanding, scoring 25 points on 11-of-20 shooting, repeatedly rescuing possessions late in the shot clock. His calm, veteran approach kept Detroit afloat during stretches where Boston threatened to steal the game.
This was Harris at his best: efficient, patient, and reliable when things got uncomfortable.
There’s another veteran who has been contributing in big ways lately, and that player is Duncan Robinson. He has been on a real heater from deep, and against the Celtics, he drilled 5-of-11 from three for 15 points. He is now providing the spacing Detroit envisioned when they brought him in this offseason.
Winning Where Boston Couldn’t
Detroit didn’t win this game on shooting percentages or highlight plays.
They won it in the margins — and two areas stood out clearly:
- Points in the paint
- Fast-break scoring
The Pistons attacked downhill, finished through contact, and punished Boston mistakes in transition. Those advantages added up, especially in a one-point game.
Jaylen Brown Adjusted — So Did Detroit
Jaylen Brown was excellent, scoring 32 points and carrying Boston offensively for long stretches.
But Detroit made him work harder in the second half.
Help came earlier. Driving lanes closed faster. Shots became more contested. Brown still made plays — stars do — but the Pistons prevented him from fully taking over when the game tightened late.
A Grown-Up Win
This wasn’t a game to celebrate loudly.
It was a game to learn from.
Detroit didn’t unravel during a foul-heavy night. They didn’t let a rough shooting performance from their All-Star derail them. They stayed connected defensively and executed just enough late to walk away with the win.
Those are quiet steps forward — but real ones.
Stat Capsule 🏀 (10 Items – Locked Format)
Score
1️⃣ Pistons 104, Celtics 103
Team Impact (3)
2️⃣ Points in the Paint: DET 48 | BOS 32
3️⃣ Fast Break Points: DET 20 | BOS 5
4️⃣ Turnovers: DET 8 | BOS 14
Player Impact (3)
5️⃣ Tobias Harris: 25 PTS, late-clock scoring
6️⃣ Cade Cunningham: 14 AST, All-Star control despite 4-17 FG
7️⃣ Jalen Duren: 18 PTS, 9 REB, interior force
Game Flow (3)
8️⃣ Foul-heavy game disrupted rhythm
9️⃣ Pistons adjusted defensively on Jaylen Brown late
🔟 Detroit closed with composure in a one-point finish
What Do You Think?
Does Cade’s first All-Star selection as a starter finally validate what we all know, that he is a bona fide NBA superstar? Drop a comment below or join the conversation in the Pistons Hardwood Hub — where fans break down every game, every angle.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
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