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Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham Makes Statement on Kevin Durant

What did Cade Cunningham have to say about facing Kevin Durant?
Justin Grasso|
Dec 21, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Dec 21, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

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Detroit PistonsPhoenix Suns

Saturday night’s matchup between the Detroit Pistons and the Phoenix Suns featured a heavyweight battle between one NBA superstar, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, and Detroit Pistons’ All-Star hopeful, Cade Cunningham.

The game ended in favor of the visitors, who defeated the Suns 133-125. The young rising star Cunningham hit the dagger three with Durant on him to put the game away.

Following the matchup, Durant sent heavy praise Cunningham’s way. The former No. 1 overall pick sent it right back when he made a statement about facing Durant once again,

“It's an honor every time,” Cunningham told reporters.

“I tell him every time we play each other. It's an honor to be able to compete with him. He's such a basketball junkie. I've had the chance to workout with him and see what he's like in the offseason. It's an honor to be able to play against him, somebody I watched as a kid. To be on the floor with him now going at him and him going at me, it's a lot of fun.”

Durant dominated in the scoring department on Saturday, as he scored 43 points in 38 minutes of action. He also dished out six assists and came down with five rebounds.

On the other side, Cunningham led the way in scoring for his team as he put up 28 points in 36 minutes of action. He accounted for a double-double as he produced 13 assists.

At this stage in the season, Cunningham has appeared in 25 games. He’s been averaging 24 points per game on 46 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent shooting from three. He’s nearly producing a triple-double each night, coming down with seven rebounds per game while passing out ten assists on a nightly basis.

Durant endorsed Cunningham’s All-Star campaign after seeing the young star in action on Saturday night. Now, it’s up to the fans, players, and the coaches to get him in.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia

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