DETROIT — Cade Cunningham had a handful of moments that solidified his breakout season. One of his most memorable plays came during the Pistons’ Game 2 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Cunningham had his best postseason performance by scoring 33 points on 11 of 21 shooting, going 10-for-12 from the foul line and grabbing 12 rebounds. He registered 20 points in the first half to help the Pistons tie the playoff series at one game apiece.

Midway through the third quarter, Cunningham got the ball following a Knicks turnover and threw down a one-handed dunk in transition. On his way to the basket, he completed a behind-the-back crossover to break free of Mikal Bridges. After the dunk, Cunningham celebrated by pointing at soon-to-be Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony, who was seated baseline.

Cunningham went on to average 25 points, 8.7 assists, 8.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in his first playoff series. Although the Knicks eliminated the Pistons in six games, his playoff debut was a testament to what has him on the verge of his first All-NBA selection.

“He had an incredible year,” president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon said. “Stats-wise, he was fantastic. He got better. I think people who knew basketball already knew he was a helluva talent, that he was capable of doing that, but he had not driven winning. He was the main driver of winning for us this year. That was his biggest step and the hardest step to take.”

Similar to the Pistons’ overall success, Langdon suspects that Cunningham’s standout year could have significant ramifications for next season.

“He was looking at other players and had a target on their backs, and now, he is going to have a target on his,” Langdon said. “Players are going to be like, ‘Man, I am going against Cade Cunningham tonight. I’m going to get my rest because people are going to be watching.’”

During Cunningham’s exit interview, which Langdon and coach J.B. Bickerstaff conducted, the primary focus was on the increased defensive attention that he will face from opponents next season. Cunningham started encountering various coverages and physical defensive strategies against the Knicks, which hindered his production at times.

His field goal percentage decreased from 46.9% shooting from the field in the regular season to 42.6% during the six-game series. The Knicks’ defensive scheme made Cunningham’s 3-point shooting a nonfactor, as he shot 17.9% from behind the arc. In the regular season, the former No. 1 pick shot a career-best 35.6% from deep.

Part of his drop in field goal efficiency included two missed potential winning shots in Games 4 and 6. During the postseason, he also led all playoff teams in turnovers, averaging 5.3 giveaways per game.

“The big thing for him, and we talked to him about it, get into elite shape,” Langdon said. “He is incredibly skilled and talented. He understands the leadership of it. He now has a little bit of late-season and playoff experience, he knows how it feels.

“So, now, he has an understanding of what he is training for in the summer. If you have never experienced playoff basketball, you don’t understand the level you have to go to. He should be training for the first and second rounds of the playoffs. Not just Game 45 (of the regular season) anymore.”

Cunningham’s career-best season ended with him catapulting himself into the echelon of the league’s elites. Langdon watched as Cunningham entered the year motivated to prove himself as a top-tier player while helping the Pistons reestablish themselves as a respectable and winning franchise.

His determination led Detroit to a 44-38 record in the regular season, its best campaign in nine years. Cunningham’s highlight play during Game 2 was among the best that demonstrated his career year. The All-Star guard is determined to prove that his breakout, and the Pistons’ success, was no fluke.

“We proved that when you come to play Detroit, it’s going to be a dogfight and you have to play the full 48 minutes,” Cunningham said. “That’s something the whole league has taken notice of; the belief in the room and in the locker room has grown a ton.”

NEW YORK — Cade Cunningham used a screen from Isaiah Stewart and instantly crossed over Karl-Anthony Towns, who was a bit slow to step up in help defense. The move created an open lane for Cunningham, who finished the play with a two-handed dunk at the 4:05 mark of the third quarter.

His basket was a part of the 19 points the Detroit Pistons scored during the final six minutes of the period, which resulted in a 91-83 lead against the New York Knicks entering the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s playoff game.

“It was a lot of fun being out there — I enjoyed it a lot,” Cunningham said. “I think the whole group enjoyed it. It was loud in there. It was rocking, so those are the best games to play in.”

Cunningham’s dunk was arguably his best play during his playoff debut Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. However, his double-double performance of 21 points and 12 assists wasn’t enough, as the Pistons sustained a 123-112 Game 1 loss to the Knicks.

Cunningham walked off the court dejected after the Pistons gave up 40 points in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ comeback win, but he remained grateful for the overall experience.

“Playing our game, battling on the boards, playing with pace, and getting stops, those are the many things that clicked for us,” Cunningham said. “At the end [we] just got to clean up the little things. … It was a solid game through three quarters, but the fourth quarter comes, and there are things we’ll clean up.”

As the player who led Detroit to a 3-1 regular-season record against New York, Cunningham understood that he would be the primary objective of the Knicks’ defensive strategy during their best-of-seven series.

He entered the game with an understanding of how they would defend him. He knew the Knicks would send multiple bodies to force the ball out of his hands. Every time he came off a screen, an extra defender would step up to seal an open lane to the basket.

New York assigned various players to guard Cunningham throughout the night, but Knicks small forward OG Anunoby took the lead as the primary defender. At times, Anunoby’s aggressive defense made it challenging for Cunningham to catch the ball while forcing him into several tough shot attempts.

“OG, he’s a hell of a player,” said Knicks guard Josh Hart. “Defensively, we have faith in him to guard anybody. We’re all locked in and dialed into him. He’s a good player, but OG loves those kinds of matchups, especially in the playoffs, where you can be physical; he’s a physical guy, being able to get through screens and those kinds of things. We need his offense obviously, but more importantly, his defense every game.”

With Anunoby at the helm, Cunningham finished the night shooting 8-of-21 from the field, including one made 3-pointer, and committed six turnovers. Three of his giveaways accounted for the six turnovers the Pistons committed as a whole during their fourth-quarter collapse.

After a subpar debut, the All-Star guard vows to learn and adjust from his mistakes ahead of their Game 2 matchup. His most significant lessons came from acknowledging his lack of ball security and making a commitment to improving his decision-making and overall play on both ends of the floor.

Cunningham’s crossover and dunk late in the third quarter were among a few plays when he gave a glimpse into the player who averaged 30.8 points per game against the Knicks during the regular season. He is determined to regain form in an attempt to help the Pistons end their nine-game playoff losing streak come Monday night.

“This was definitely a learning experience,” Cunningham said. “It was something I’ve never been a part of. But also, I did not treat it like it was a different game. I tried to approach it like a regular game, read what the defense gives me and exploit it. At the end of the day, it’s basketball…

“We’re excited. I’m excited for this series to keep going. I’m ready for Game 2.”

The Pistons and Knicks will meet for Game 2 on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. in New York. FanDuel Sports Network and TNT will carry the game.

DETROIT — The joyous sensation that comes with April sunshine is typically overshadowed by despair for Cade Cunningham. For the first three years of his career with the Pistons, walking into the Henry Ford Performance Center in mid-April is usually reserved for locker cleanout day, as he tries to find words to summarize another disappointing season.

But when Cunningham entered the Pistons’ practice facility on Tuesday, the atmosphere was different. Instead of reflecting on another losing campaign, he spent the first of a four-day practice session preparing for a playoff series against the New York Knicks.

“It feels like it’s been a two, three-year thing, but for us to have done it so quickly, I think it’s just a testament to the group of people that we brought into the building,” Cunningham said.

“The chip that last year put on our shoulder, I think everybody understands that and wants to come in and make a change. We feel great for the city to have put ourselves in the position we’re in now. And now it’s about working our way and trying to find ways to win the championship.”

Cunningham had an All-NBA-caliber season, leading the Pistons to their most successful campaign in nine years. They finished with a 44-38 record and secured the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. As a result, Detroit will begin its best-of-seven series against the Knicks on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

The idea of making a playoff debut under the bright lights of New York could be nerve-racking for any young player. However, for the first-time All-Star, Cunningham will make his postseason debut in a place where he has had a handful of successful moments in his young career.

“I’ve played in the Garden, I know what it feels like,” Cunningham said. “I am going in there with an open mind. I am not shying away from anything. I am not blocking out any possibilities. I’ve played games there before. I think I have what it takes to do everything I like to do on the court. I am ready to go.”

Since his rookie season in 2021, Cunningham has played six career games at the Garden, averaging 25 points on 45% shooting from the floor with 8.5 assists and six rebounds.

During Detroit’s renaissance this season, the former No. 1 pick led the Pistons to a 2-0 record on the Knicks’ home floor. He notched the 11th-highest scoring average at Madison Square Garden this season, recording 32.5 points on 52.3% shooting from the field and 56.3% on 3-pointers, along with 9.5 assists and six rebounds.

His performances against the Knicks illustrate how he has led Detroit’s resurgence, contributing to a 3-1 regular-season record against New York.

“What Cade has shown this year is that he impacts winning in a high way,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He is an All-NBA player in my mind. I know what Cade wants to be and what he aims to be. Those players who are at that level win. That’s why I believe he deserves everything he has received. I know how hungry he is, and he is pushing for more.”

Similar to his teammates’ mindset, Cunningham is not relying upon the success of the regular season to prepare for the playoffs. Under the guidance of coach Tom Thibodeau, he anticipates the Knicks will employ a new defensive strategy to slow down his nifty play.

“I have an idea of how they are going to game plan and switch things up,” Cunningham said. “But once we get to the moment, we will see and make adjustments from there. Just making sure that we are as ready as possible for anything that might come.”

Cunningham’s breakout year has been marked by several standout moments throughout the regular season. One of his best performances took place during the Pistons’ 120-111 road win over the Knicks on Dec. 7, when he recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds.

Pistons fans at the Garden were in a frenzy, while Knicks supporters departed the arena feeling stunned by the loss. Although it was a significant moment for Cunningham, he understands that the intense atmosphere in New York on a cold night in early December pales in comparison to what’s at stake during the postseason.

However, Cunningham will be entering hostile territory with confidence.

Playing in the playoffs has been a dream since Cunningham, a Dallas-area native, watched Dirk Nowitzki lead the Mavericks to an NBA championship in 2011. The experience sparked a desire to one day lead an NBA franchise to a title within his respective career. Fourteen years later, Cunningham will get his first opportunity as his postseason journey begins in the mecca of basketball.

“It’s exciting,” Cunningham said. “Watching the play-in games and knowing that we still have games to come, it is just exciting. I am looking forward to playoff basketball. It is something I always dreamt of. Just trying to stay rested and ready to go.”