Cade Cunningham's 52 Makes NBA History: First 50-10-0 Game Ever
Cade Cunningham scored a career-high 52 points with 11 assists and zero turnovers as Detroit beat Washington 144-140 in double overtime — an NBA first.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Navin75
WASHINGTON — Cade Cunningham scored a career-high 52 points with 11 assists and no turnovers on Thursday night, leading the Detroit Pistons to a 144-140 double-overtime win over the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in the first 50-10-0 game since turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78, according to OptaSTATS.
The 24-year-old guard, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft, scored 30 of his points in the fourth quarter and the two overtimes, including 18 in the fourth. He shot 16 of 25 from the field and 17 of 18 from the free-throw line in 48 minutes, and added five rebounds.
Key Takeaways
- Cunningham is the first player in NBA history to record 50 points, 10 assists and zero turnovers in a game since turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78.
- His 52 points beat his previous career high of 46, set just over a year ago — also against Washington.
- Ausar Thompson recorded his first career triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for Detroit.
- Washington lost its sixth game in a row despite 30-point nights from Trae Young, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr.
What Is a 50-10-0 Game and Why Has No One Done It Before?
The record rests on a qualifier that makes it even harder to reach. The NBA did not record turnovers as an official statistic before the 1977-78 season, so the mark covers the turnover era rather than the league's full history. Even inside that span, no player had combined a 50-point night with 10 assists and a clean sheet on giveaways.
Cunningham broke that pattern while carrying Detroit's offence for 48 of the game's 58 minutes. He passed his previous career high when his 47th point, a three-pointer in the first overtime, tied the game at 130.
Cade Cunningham Stats vs Wizards: Full Box Score From the 144-140 Win
Trae Young's three-pointer at the buzzer forced the first overtime, and the Wizards scored the first seven points of that period to lead 128-121 before Cunningham rallied Detroit. Rookie AJ Dybantsa then hit a midrange shot with less than a second left to force a second overtime.
Cunningham opened the second overtime with a three-pointer, and Anthony Davis fouled out to give Detroit the upper hand. It was still a two-point game in the final minute before Cunningham scored from the baseline to make it 142-138 with 25.3 seconds left.
| Player | Team | Points | Assists | Rebounds | Field goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cade Cunningham | Detroit | 52 | 11 | 5 | 16-25 |
| Ausar Thompson | Detroit | 17 | 11 | 11 | — |
| Trae Young | Washington | 37 | 14 | — | 8-23 |
| Alex Sarr | Washington | 30 | — | — | 12-14 |
Washington's three 30-point scorers made franchise history of their own. Young, Davis and Sarr gave the club its first trio of 30-point scorers since Mike Davis, Earl Monroe and Gus Johnson did it for the Baltimore Bullets on November 18, 1969. Sarr was 10 of 10 from the field in regulation and finished 12 of 14.
What Cade Cunningham's Historic Night Means for the Pistons' Season
For Detroit, the win was about more than one line in the record book. The Pistons have built their season around Cunningham's growth, and a 52-point night with no turnovers is the clearest sign yet that he can carry a team through a game that twice looked lost.
The result also deepened Washington's slide to six straight defeats. Detroit now heads to Miami for a game on Saturday night, while Washington hosts Houston on Sunday night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has any NBA player scored 50 points with 10 assists and zero turnovers before?
No. According to OptaSTATS, Cade Cunningham is the first NBA player to record at least 50 points and 10 assists without a turnover since the league began tracking turnovers in the 1977-78 season.
What was Cade Cunningham's career high before the Wizards game?
His previous career high was 46 points, set just over a year ago, also against Washington. He passed that mark with his 47th point, a three-pointer in the first overtime that tied the game at 130.
What is Cade Cunningham averaging this season?
After the Washington game, Cunningham is averaging 25.0 points, 7.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game across 11 games.
When do the Detroit Pistons play next?
Detroit plays at Miami on Saturday night. Washington hosts Houston on Sunday night after losing its sixth game in a row to the Pistons.
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