Cade Cunningham envisions a tough battle in his Pistons playoff series against the Knicks.
“It’s going to be a war,” the Pistons star said Sunday on ESPN. “It’s going to be highly physical games — defense, battling it out on the glass, all of those different things.
“I think it’s going to be a super exciting series for people at home to watch, and it’s going to be a great test for us as far as first round, first series in a long time for the organization. So it’s exciting, and I think it’s going to be a great one for us.”
Precious Achiuwa (5) is hit by Cade Cunningham (2) and Jalen Duren (0) of the Detroit Pistons during the second quarter of a game at Little Caesars Arena on April 10, 2025. Getty Images
Cunningham, a first-time All-Star this season and strong candidate for All-NBA, torched the Knicks in four matchups this regular season, averaging 30.8 points with 8.3 assists while shooting over 56 percent.
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“Throughout the whole year, just a really good player,” said Mikal Bridges, who was one of the main defenders on Cunningham this season.
“Just goes at his own pace, he’s calm at all times,” Bridges continued. “And I think this year, even the year before, but this year [especially], more playmaking … Making more reads. Getting other guys open, knowing he has the ball in his hands more, but still getting other guys going, knowing he has more opportunities.”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said he’s giving the Pistons and Cunningham, ‘the proper amount of respect.’”
Cade Cunningham and the Pistons are in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, and haven’t won a playoff game since 2008. Getty Images
“He’s had a terrific season. It’s not just [against] us, he’s done it against everybody. We understand that. … With great players you don’t guard them individually, you guard them collectively,” Thibodeau said. “So we have to understand what goes into that.”
By winning Sunday, the Knicks eclipsed last season’s mark by one victory and secured the franchise’s best record since 2013.
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“I just said that to our team, you win 51 games, you’re the third seed, so you’ve earned the right to be in the playoffs,” Thibdoeau said. “You’re not in the play-in, so you have a week to prepare and get ready for the next challenge. It’s really a new season. The regular season puts you in position, gives you the opportunity, you want to finish with the highest seed possible and then you start all over.
“Everyone’s record is zero and zero. You’ve got to earn everything again. We have to understand what goes into it. In terms of preparation, we’re big believers in how we prepare. Now it’s time to get ready and study.”
Troy Melton allowed one hit in six innings and the Detroit Tigers’ offense came alive late in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Dillon Dingler had two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs as Detroit won its second straight game after losing four of five.
Melton (4-0) gave up a homer to Sam Antonacci on his second pitch of the game but allowed only four more baserunners — on three walks and a hit batter. He struck out five while allowing two or fewer runs for the fourth time in five starts this season.
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Two Tigers relievers finished, with Kenley Jansen pitching the ninth for his ninth save.
Sean Newcomb started Chicago’s bullpen game with three perfect innings, but Tyler Davis walked the bases loaded with two out in the fourth. Joe Rock came out of the White Sox bullpen and struck out pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones to loud boos from the Comerica Park crowd.
With a runner on first and two out in the fifth, Kevin McGonigle got Detroit’s first hit of the game — the first hit for either team since Antonacci’s leadoff homer.
Dillon Dingler followed with an RBI single off Rock (0-1) to tie the game.
Detroit took the lead in the sixth when Spencer Torkelson doubled and scored on James Outman’s single. Jake Rogers made it 3-1 later in the inning with an RBI single.
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Chicago didn’t get its second hit until Braden Montgomery doubled off Tyler Holton with one out in the seventh.
Dingler hit his 17th homer in the seventh, giving Detroit a 4-1 lead.
Up next
The teams finish the series Sunday in what was originally scheduled to be Justin Verlander’s first start as a Tigers player in Detroit since 2017. His hamstring strain means RHP Keider Montero (3-5, 3.67) will come back from the bullpen to face RHP Davis Martin (9-3, 3.31).
Today is Saturday, June 20, the 171st day of 2026. There are 194 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On June 20, 1943, race-related rioting erupted in Detroit; federal troops were sent in by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to quell the violence that resulted in more than 30 deaths.
Also on this date:
In 1782, the Continental Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the emblem of the bald eagle.
In 1837, Queen Victoria acceded to the British throne following the death of her uncle, King William IV.
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In 1893, a jury in New Bedford, Massachusetts, found Lizzie Borden not guilty of the ax murders of her father and stepmother.
In 1947, gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was shot dead at the Beverly Hills, California, home of his girlfriend, Virginia Hill, likely at the order of mob associates.
In 1967, boxer Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted and was sentenced to five years in prison. (Ali’s conviction would ultimately be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court).
In 1972, three days after the arrest of the Watergate burglars, President Richard Nixon met at the White House with his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman; the secretly made tape recording of this meeting ended up with a notorious 18 1/2-minute gap.
In 2002, in Atkins v. Virginia, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that executing people with intellectual disabilities qualified as cruel and unusual punishment and was therefore in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
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In 2025, a powerful tornado tore across southeastern North Dakota with winds topping 200 mph (322 kph) and an EF5 category, the strongest classification for a tornado and the first of that strength confirmed on U.S. soil in a dozen years. The tornado killed three people and heavily damaged a regional airport.
Voting on finalists open from June 22 through July 20
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What is the barbershop in Metro Detroit? We’ve got our finalists for this year’s Vote 4 The Best category for best barbershop.
Here are this year’s finalists:
Andino’s Barbershop in St. Clair Shores
Bennies Barbershop in Trenton
Chivalry Barber Co. in Royal Oak
The Garage Cuts and Coffee in Plymouth
Walter T’s Grooming Company in Waterford Township
We received more than 16,700 nominations across our 80 Vote 4 The Best categories this year. Each category was then narrowed down to five finalists.
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Click here to view the full list of finalists.
Now that nominations are over, voting on finalists can begin. Voting is open from June 22 through July 20, and you can vote for each category once per day during that time.
Click here to vote for finalists in all 80 categories.
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About the Authors
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Derick Hutchinson
Derick is the Digital Executive Producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.
