NBA: Pistons withstand Anthony Edwards’ career-high 53, Wolves
Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives around Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on January 04, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP
DETROIT — Cade Cunningham scored a season-high 40 points and the Detroit Pistons overcame Anthony Edwards’ career-high 53 points to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-105 on Saturday night.
Cunningham, who also had nine assists, set his previous season high of 35 points against Milwaukee on Nov. 13.
Article continues after this advertisementEdwards’ previous career high was 51 points against Washington on April 9 last season. His 3-pointer with 9:25 remaining tied his career best but he didn’t score again until 22 seconds remained.
READ: NBA: Pistons overcome slow start to rally past Hornets
Cade & the @DetroitPistons win 6 of the last 7! 📈
40 PTS (season high)
9 AST
6 REB
4 3PM pic.twitter.com/Xzm6IKIUTY— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2025
Malik Beasley had 23 points as the Pistons won their third straight and sixth in their last seven games. Tobias Harris contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds and Ausar Thompson added 10 points, 10 rebounds and a career-best six steals.
Article continues after this advertisementJulius Randle was the only other Minnesota player in double figures with 17 points.
Takeaways
Timberwolves: A Western Conference finalist last season, they appeared to be heating up with three straight victories late last month. They’ve now lost three in a row to drop back to the .500 mark (17-17).
Pistons: With starting guard Jaden Ivey sidelined by a fractured fibula, the Pistons may have found his replacement in the lineup. Thompson gave that unit a defensive spark that energized their transition game.
READ: NBA: Pistons guard Jaden Ivey has surgery on broken leg
Key moment
Detroit had a five-point lead after the first quarter and extended it to 18 with a 13-0 run to start the second. Cunningham had six points and an assist while Thompson made two steals and dunks during that span. The Pistons led the rest of the way.
Key stat
Edwards had been held to 20 or fewer points in eight of the previous 14 games. His previous season high was 37 points against Portland on Nov. 8.
Up next
The Timberwolves host the Los Angeles Clippers and the Pistons host Portland on Monday night.
