Cade Cunningham Makes Detroit Pistons History vs Hawks

Cade Cunningham is working on becoming the triple-double king for the Detroit Pistons.

Dec 18, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles against the Atlanta Hawks in the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

*UPDATE: Cunningham finished Friday’s game with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. The Pistons defeated the Hawks 122-121.

It’s been quite the week for Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham.

On Friday, the emerging All-Star started off his night against the Atlanta Hawks with a passing clinic. By the end of the first half, Cunningham had notched ten assists. He tied an NBA-high in the assist department through one half, joining the club with James Harden, Nikola Jokic, and Domantas Sabonis.

When Cunningham entered the locker room in Detroit on Friday night, he was just a few rebounds and eight points shy of notching a triple-double already.

During the fourth quarter, Cunningham made it another triple-double night this week.

By notching his third consecutive triple-double, Cunningham tied with Grant Hill for the most consecutive triple-doubles in Pistons history.

Along with tying Hill, Cunningham also notched the second-most total triple-doubles in franchise history landing in the same company as Isiah Thomas.

Cade Cunningham has recorded a triple-double in his third consecutive game, tied with Grant Hill (April 11-14, 1997) as the longest such streak in franchise history.

It is his fifth career triple-double, tied with Isiah Thomas for the second-most in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/u67N5OQGEr

— Pistons PR (@Pistons_PR) November 9, 2024

Thomas achieved five triple-doubles in 979 games. Cunningham collected his fifth in his 148th game.

Next up on the list is Grant Hill. In 435 games with the Pistons, Hill has 29 triple-doubles to his name. While breaking Hill’s record is certainly possible for the 23-year-old Cunningham, it’s not quite in reach just yet.

For now, Cunningham is working on getting the Pistons back on track against the Hawks. After picking up two-straight wins over the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers, the Pistons came up short in heartbreaking fashion against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.

Heading into the Atlanta matchup, Cunningham was posting averages of 23 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. He was shooting 47 percent from the field and 35 percent from three.