NEW YORK – Without their top two centers, the Detroit Pistons marched into Madison Square Garden and completed a regular- season sweep over the squad that knocked them out of the playoffs last spring.
The Pistons rolled over the New York Knicks, 126-111, on Thursday, FEb. 19, behind a masterful performance by Cade Cunningham, who finished with 42 points (on 50% shooting), 13 assists, eight rebounds and two blocks. The Pistons were without Jalen Duren, who completed his two-game suspension, and Isaiah Stewart, who is suspended through March 3.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPaul Reed added 18 points in getting the start in the middle for the Pistons. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 33 points and seven assists.
Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons runs the court after a 3-point basket during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.LOOKING AHEAD: 3 questions for Pistons post-All-Star break, Isaiah Stewart suspension
Detroit Pistons playoff picture
The victory sent the Pistons to 41-13: the best record in the NBA, six games up on the Boston Celtics (who played late Thursday night) in the East and seven games up on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division.
What’s next for the Pistons
Detroit continues its second half on the road with a visit to Chicago to face the Bulls on Saturday (8 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit). Chicago sits 11th in the East, 1½ games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the final play-in spot. The Bulls were busy at the trade deadline, picking up several guards while dealing marksman Kevin Huerter (who didn’t play against the Knicks) to the Pistons.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCunningham puts on a show at the Garden
At MSG, Cunningham made one of his strongest MVP cases yet, and it didn’t matter who the Knicks put in front of him. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are two of the better wing defenders in the East, and neither of them had an answer, as Cunningahm knocked down bucket after bucket.
There were multiple sequences where Cunningham seemingly got what he wanted, where he wanted it, at will. He opened with 14 points in the first quarter, including a trio of 3-pointers – the third extending a 21-8 Pistons run that erased an early 9-2 deficit. He closed the first half with eight points in the final three minutes, and an assist on a 3-pointer by Duncan Robinson. That came in the midst of a 7-0 run to push the lead to double-digits, 58-48.
STYLN', PROFILIN': Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham on the newest GQ Magazine cover
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter the Knicks trimmed the Pistons' lead to two early in the third, Cunningham got to work again. He assisted back-to-back 3-pointers by Robinson and then proceeded to score the Pistons’ next 11 points – his fourth 3-pointer, a layup through traffic, a midrange jumper and a left-handed dunk through traffic, after which he let out an energetic scream. He capped the run with consecutive assists to Ron Holland that pushed the lead to 13, 88-75, with 1:31 left in the third.
Cunningham put on the finishing touches late in the fourth, knocking down a stepback 3 over Jeremy Sochan to hit 40 points, followed by a transition alley-oop to Daniss Jenkins that gave the Pistons a 114-97 lead with just over four minutes remaining.
Pistons weather shorthanded frontcourt
New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) goes to the basket as Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed (7) defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden in New York on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.Despite having a substantial size and depth disadvantage vs. the Knicks frontcourt on paper, Reed and two-way center Tolu Smith held their own against Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Reed got his second straight start and had a strong night with 18 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementReed once again showed why he's arguably the top third-string center in the league with his work defensively on Towns, who had just two points at halftime on three shots. Smith battled foul trouble, entering the fourth quarter with five, but was impactful in his 19 minutes by setting strong screens and cleaning up the glass. He tallied four points and two rebounds.
The Pistons narrowly edged the Knicks in points the paint 58-56, and won the rebounding battle 44-38. They will have Duren back for Saturday's game against the Bulls. But Stewart still has five games remaining on his suspension.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons put on a show in New York with rout
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