1 week Ago By LW
ensions were high at as the and continued their physical series in Game 4. After rookie forced a turnover by stripping the ball from , things quickly escalated. grabbed and tripped , who then stood over him, shouting in frustration.
Before the situation could spiral, , the ' All-Star guard, stepped in. shoved away from , effectively calming the confrontation before it could lead to technical fouls or even an ejection. In a game where needed every available player, quick thinking may have saved a crucial piece of their rotation.
Cade Cunningham's leadership on full display , experiencing his first postseason, has proven to be far more than just a scoring machine. Averaging 26.0 points, 8.
3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists in the series against he's shown poise and leadership beyond his years. His move to intervene with wasn't just about calming a rookie - it was about preserving chances to stay alive in the playoffs.
The trailed 2-1 heading into Game 4 and were already playing shorthanded, with big man sidelined due to a knee injury. Losing another player to a suspension would have been a major blow, making decision all the more critical. A young Pistons team growing through adversity Under first-year head coach has made a remarkable turnaround, reaching the postseason for the first time since 2019 after winning just 14 games the previous year.
, the fifth pick in the 2024 Draft, has embodied the ' gritty mentality all season. At just 19 years old, he's shown he's not afraid to mix it up with veterans, even if that sometimes brings trouble. The ' toughness has been a defining trait during this playoff run, but Sunday's incident served as a reminder: staying smart is just as important as staying tough.
Thanks to leadership, kept its focus when it mattered most - and lived to fight another day..
