Cade Cunningham Catches Fire as Pistons Overwhelm Raptors in Statement Win
There’s a hierarchy in the NBA, and last night in Detroit, the Pistons made it abundantly clear where they stand-and where the Toronto Raptors still hope to get. Despite coming into the game with more wins than they had all of last season, two All-Stars leading the charge, and one of the league’s best defenses, the Raptors ran into a buzzsaw. Even without key frontcourt pieces Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, Detroit flexed its depth and physicality in a dominant win that served as a reality check for a young Toronto squad still learning what it takes to compete at the next level.
The night started with promise for the Raptors. The game was competitive early, and it looked like Toronto might once again punch above its weight. But as the game wore on, Detroit’s physical brand of basketball took over-and so did Cade Cunningham.
Let’s start with Paul Reed. The Pistons’ third-string center didn’t just fill in-he thrived.
Reed opened the scoring with a confident wing three and never looked back, finishing with 22 points in what was arguably his best outing of the season. Toronto’s defensive game plan was focused on containing Cunningham in pick-and-roll situations, which meant bigs like Jakob Poeltl had to step up high.
That left Reed with open lanes to the rim, and he took full advantage. Toronto’s help defense was either late or nonexistent, and Reed punished them for it, slipping into space and finishing with authority.
Poeltl, making his return after a lengthy absence, had a tough reintroduction to game speed. While his presence was welcome, Detroit made sure it wasn’t a triumphant comeback. Reed’s movement and timing exposed gaps in Toronto’s interior defense, and the Raptors never quite adjusted.
Then there was Cunningham. Known more for his playmaking and poise than his perimeter shooting, the Pistons guard flipped the script by knocking down six threes-many of them coming in rhythm out of pick-and-roll sets.
Toronto tried to counter by dropping their bigs into softer coverages to take away lobs and rolls, but that just gave Cunningham space to walk into pull-up jumpers. Time and again, Toronto’s on-ball defenders-whether it was Ja’Kobe Walter or others-got caught on screens, and Cunningham made them pay.
His second quarter was a masterclass in rhythm shooting, and it blew the game open.
By halftime, Detroit had built a 15-point lead, and they never let Toronto get close enough to threaten. Every time the Raptors tried to make a push, Detroit responded-whether it was with a timely stop, a second-chance bucket, or another Cunningham dagger.
The Pistons’ defense was relentless, particularly in how they handled Scottie Barnes. Barnes thrives in the mid-range and when attacking downhill, but Detroit never let him find a rhythm.
He was met with size and physicality at every turn.
Brandon Ingram was efficient when he got looks-hitting five of his seven shots-but Detroit didn’t give him much room to operate either. The Pistons’ game plan was clear: make Toronto’s stars uncomfortable, and don’t let anyone get hot. Mission accomplished.
Defensively, Detroit was everywhere. They dominated the glass and swarmed ball-handlers like a pack of hyenas.
Even players not typically known for their defense, like Duncan Robinson, brought intensity at the point of attack. That kind of collective effort is what separates good teams from great ones-and right now, Detroit is playing with the kind of edge that suggests they’re ready to take the next step.
For Toronto, this loss is part of a larger trend. While they’ve shown real growth this season-both in the standings and on the floor-they’ve struggled to consistently beat the league’s top-tier teams.
That’s not unusual for a team still finding its identity, but it’s a reminder that the climb is far from over. The Raptors are on the right path, but nights like this show just how steep the mountain can be.