Cade Cunningham attempts to follow up his third triple-double of the season with another strong effort when the Detroit Pistons visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.
Cunningham recorded 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Saturday’s 112-86 rout of the visiting Charlotte Hornets.
The fifth-year pro is a virtual shoo-in for his second straight All-Star berth as he is averaging 27.0 points, 9.2 assists and 6.4 rebounds in 25 games.
“He can settle the game down so many different ways offensively, getting to a spot, creating for others,” Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of Cunningham. “I thought he did a great job on defensive boards, which also helps us get out in transition when the ball’s in his hand to initiate, and then he can just find his spots.”
Cunningham has topped 20 points in five of the past six games. He also has reached double digits in assists three times and rebounding twice during that span.
The six-game stretch began with a 122-116 home victory over the Trail Blazers on Dec. 5. Cunningham had 29 points, nine assists and three steals in that contest as the Pistons defeated Portland for the fourth straight time.
The Trail Blazers received 35 points from Deni Avdija. Jerami Grant added 29 and Shaedon Sharpe scored 28 off the bench.
The victory over Charlotte was the seventh in the past nine games for the Pistons, who have been one of the best teams this season with 22 wins in 28 games.
Jalen Duren registered 19 points and 11 rebounds and Tobias Harris added 16 points for Detroit. Duncan Robinson made four 3-pointers while scoring 15 points and Ausar Thompson added 14.
The Pistons were stellar on defense, allowing just 14 fourth-quarter points while holding the Hornets to 31.5% shooting for the game.
Robinson liked what he saw on both sides of the ball.
“We were flying around making multiple efforts, thought we had stretches where we were really good from an effort standpoint in execution,” Robinson said. “It’s just about time to get the effort and execution on time. I thought we took a good step in that regard, though.”
Portland has won three straight games, taking one from the visiting Golden State Warriors and then sweeping a home-and-home set against the Sacramento Kings.
The Trail Blazers allowed Sacramento to recover from a 15-point deficit with 1:53 left in regulation on Thursday before escaping with a 134-133 overtime victory in Portland. Two nights later, the defense was much better in a 98-93 victory.
Interim Trail Blazers coach Tiago Splitter cited big men Robert Williams III and Donovan Clingan as big reasons for the improvement as the Kings were a measly 6 of 31 from 3-point range and shot just 37.9% overall on Saturday.
“Our defense was a step up,” Splitter said. “Guys were more active. I think Rob and D.C. did a great job at the rim.”
Clingan had 14 points and 14 rebounds while Williams delivered 10 points and nine rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.
Williams has played in just 18 games due to his troublesome knees. Splitter has seen a difference in the team defense when Williams is available.
“He’s a big factor for us coming off the bench,” Splitter said. “Changing the game is a different dynamic defensively. He can switch. He can stay on the weak side and block shots and has great timing.
“He’s huge for our defense for all the adjustments that I can do when I have Rob on the court.”
Avdija contributed 24 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in Saturday’s win. Grant sat out with Achilles soreness.
