NBA Action: Cunningham, Brown Lead Charge

Cunningham shines

Pistons' Cade Cunningham leads charge with 42 points vs Knicks; Spurs close gap on Thunder with 7-game win streak. Cade Cunningham (42) & Jaylen Brown (triple-double) star in NBA returns from All-Star break.

“It's regular season, so we just have to keep on chipping at it...“

Cade Cunningham dominated the court with 42 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds, leading the Detroit Pistons to a 126-111 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. This victory marked the Pistons' third consecutive win against the Knicks this season.

The game was a showcase for Cunningham, who made 17 of 34 shots and posted his third 40-point game of the season. Paul Reed filled in for Jalen Duren and contributed 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 33 points and 8 assists, but the team's three-point shooting woes continued, hitting only 8 of 35 attempts (22.9%).

San Antonio Spurs are closing in on the top spot! They crushed Phoenix Suns 121-94, racking up their seventh straight win. This puts pressure on Oklahoma City Thunder, who still lead with a 42-14 record, while Spurs are hot on their heels at 39-16.

He’s impressive performance has solidified his position as a top contender for Most Valuable Player. He's been instrumental in propelling the Pistons to the best record in the NBA (41-13), despite being a young and relatively unknown team.

After the game, Cunningham remained humble, stating that his team has “nothing” to be proud of yet, showing there's more to come.

“It's regular season, so we just have to keep on chipping at it, keep on growing, keep on getting better and preparing for the postseason,”  he said.

“We're off to a great start. Obviously, we feel great about that. But everything is to come.”

Detroit's transformation is remarkable! The Pistons were at the bottom of the Eastern Conference just two years ago, but now they're flying high. Yet, despite their scorching form, few experts have them as top contenders for the title just yet.

The Pistons had to get creative without key players Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren, who were both suspended following a brawl with the Charlotte Hornets last week. Despite missing these big hitters, Cunningham and co. still brought the heat against the Knicks.

“Missing Stew, JD, that's a big part of our team. A big part of why we are where we are. So everyone had to step up,” said Cunningham.

The Knicks were flying high, entering the game third in the Eastern Conference with a 10-2 run, but Detroit had a point to prove. The Pistons were looking for revenge after the Knicks knocked them out of the playoffs last year, and they delivered.

Detroit's win on Thursday completed a three-game sweep of the regular season series against the Knicks. Cunningham's dominant performance was just what the team needed to get the better of their Eastern Conference rivals.

“It felt great,” Cunningham said, reflecting on his dominant performance. He got off to a hot start, sinking three three-pointers in the first quarter alone, and added two more later. One of his standout moments was a thunderous driving dunk in the third quarter.

YKTPWA pic.twitter.com/hLxxsE39IK

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 20, 2026

Celtics Dominate Warriors

Jaylen Brown's triple-double led the Boston Celtics to a 121-110 win over the Golden State Warriors. Boston's lead peaked at 34 points in the third quarter, and though the Warriors mounted a late comeback, it wasn't enough to snatch the win.

Brown's all-around skills shone, with 23 points, 13 assists, and 15 rebounds. Payton Pritchard led the scoring with 26 off the bench, fueling Boston's seventh win in eight games.

The NBA's back in full swing after the All-Star break, and Thursday's games were the first action since the brief pause.

“It's early, first game back,” said Brown.

“I'm just being aggressive, finding my spots,” he added.

Cleveland Cavaliers on a roll, winning their sixth straight game. They took down Brooklyn Nets 112-84, tying the Knicks for third place in the East.

First dub after the break ✅ pic.twitter.com/pZ19NNa32F

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 20, 2026

Jalen Johnson led Atlanta Hawks to a 117-107 road win over Philadelphia 76ers. He dropped 32 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished 5 assists, and had 3 steals.

Kevin Durant's 35 points fueled Houston Rockets' 105-101 win over Charlotte Hornets.

Sacramento Kings struggled, extending their losing streak to 15 games, a franchise low, after a 131-94 loss to Orlando Magic.