I Detroit Pistons they lost soundly to Devin Booker‘s Phoenix Suns for 135-108, and from the middle third quarter doing even less than Cune Cunningham, expelled under curious circumstances, at least.
Cunningham was sent off for double technical foul with 4:23 to play in the third period, after a big one smashed against Jalen Smith. After the sinking, the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft pointed to outstretched arm Cameron Payne of the Suns, who was marking him, a gesture which the referees have indicated how provocative (“Taunting” in technical jargon) and by regulation subject to a technical foul.
So the Pistons rookie ended his game with 21 points and 4 assists. After the contest, Cade Cunningham has explained how the gesture was directed not towards the Suns point guard and was certainly not provocative, but towards the stands of the Little Caesars Arena in the area where friends and relatives were seated. “They were sitting in the seats just behind the bench and after the dunk, I pointed there. Maybe I should have been more lucid and read the situation better, provoking is not something I do, usually I don’t“.
An expulsion that certainly did not change the course of the game, with the Phoenis Suns clearly superior and already 89-69 ahead in the third quarter. With a record of 10 wins and 32 losses, the Pistons are as planned one of the worst teams in the NBA but Cade Cunningham is legitimizing Detroit’s choice to bet on him with the first call. In season, Cunningham is traveling to over 15 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds on average with 39% shooting.
