The Detroit Pistons beat the Washington Wizards 144–140 in double overtime in Washington on November 12, with the game falling on November 13 in Beijing. Cade Cunningham finished with 52 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, a steal and a block, without committing a turnover.
It was his first career 50-point game. His previous high was 46, also against Washington. The combination of 52 points and 11 assists produced a further record with a defined statistical scope.
A scoring and playmaking record
The NBA began officially tracking turnovers in 1977/78. Within that statistical record, Cunningham is the first player to post at least 50 points and 10 assists with zero turnovers in one game. He is also the first Piston with a 50-point, 10-assist performance.
At a threshold of at least 45 points, two previous players had reached 10 assists without a turnover. Larry Bird recorded 46 points and 10 assists against Orlando on March 16, 1990. Alex English had the same totals against Milwaukee on January 24, 1987.
The comparison considers scoring, creating opportunities for teammates and turnovers within the same game. Cunningham raised the scoring component of that combination above 50. His totals came in a double-overtime contest and have not been adjusted to regulation length.
Thompson’s first triple-double and Washington’s trio
Ausar Thompson reached a personal milestone with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double. Alongside Cunningham’s scoring, Detroit had another player contributing double figures in both rebounds and assists.
Washington had three 30-point scorers. Anthony Davis finished with 30 points, 15 rebounds and four assists, Alex Sarr added 30 points and nine rebounds, and Trae Young recorded 37 points and 14 assists.
It was the franchise’s first trio of 30-point scorers since November 18, 1969, when Mike Davis, Earl Monroe and Gus Johnson did so for the Baltimore Bullets.
Young also became the eighth NBA player to accumulate 200 games with at least 20 points and 10 assists. He reached the milestone in 511 appearances, with only Oscar Robertson’s 355 being quicker. Several individual records converged in the same game, which Detroit ultimately won by four points.
