Cade Drops 52 With Zero Turnovers, Booker Survives a Blown 17 and Maxey Handles Toronto: Thursday's Four-Game Night

By Jordan Pierce, RF Sports Radio NBA voice

NBA fans, Thursday only had four games, and one of them was a 39-point Mavericks loss I am leaving to Marcus. But the night still produced a stat line the league has never seen.

The facts

Per the KMJ NBA roundup, Cade Cunningham scored a career-high 52 points with 11 assists in Detroit's 144-140 double-overtime win at Washington. He became the first player to record a 50-point, 10-assist game without a turnover since individual turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78. Cunningham scored 18 in the fourth quarter and went 17-of-18 at the line, and Ausar Thompson had a triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Trae Young had 37 points and 14 assists for Washington, Anthony Davis had 30 and 15 rebounds and Alex Sarr scored 30. The Wizards have lost six straight.

In Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey scored 27 as the 76ers beat Toronto 123-112. Joel Embiid added 20 and Jaylen Brown had 18 and eight assists, with LeBron James (back) out. RJ Barrett had 31 points and 14 rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost three in a row.

Devin Booker scored 30 as Phoenix blew a 17-point lead and still beat Charlotte 101-96. The Suns have won four of five; the Hornets have lost seven of eight. In Minneapolis, Bones Hyland scored 24 off the bench in the Wolves' 133-94 win over Dallas.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: 52 points and zero turnovers is one of the most efficient big nights you will ever see from a lead guard. Turnovers are the tax you pay for having the ball that much. Cade did not pay it. That is a franchise player telling you the Pistons are not a cute story anymore.

Second, do not skip past Washington. Trae, AD and Sarr combined for 97 points and lost. A team that can score like that and still drop six straight has a defense problem, not a talent problem.

Third, the Sixers keep winning without LeBron. Maxey, Embiid and Brown as a trio is a lot of shot creation, and Philly does not look like a team waiting on one guy.

And Phoenix blowing 17 to the Hornets and hanging on is the kind of win that looks fine in the standings and terrible on film. Booker can bail you out against Charlotte. He cannot do it every night against the West's best, and this homestand is supposed to be where the Suns stack wins.

What to watch next

Tonight is an NBA Cup night with nine games, including Knicks at Pacers and Warriors at Spurs on Prime Video, per WhyNBA, plus Cavaliers at Heat and Thunder at Clippers. Watch for any update on Stephen Curry before San Antonio. For Wednesday's recap, read our Nov. 12 Wednesday recap, and follow the league on our NBA page.

Radio question: is Cade Cunningham a top-10 player right now?

Sources: KMJ - NBA roundup: Cade Cunningham puts up 52 points in Pistons' 2OT win; GMA News - NBA scores: Pistons vs. Wizards, 76ers vs. Raptors and other games; WhyNBA - NBA schedule Friday, Nov. 13: nine Emirates NBA Cup games.