Cade Cunningham’s Filthy Move on Paolo Banchero Leaves Fans in Awe – “Sent Him to Hell”

Cade Cunningham impressed in Game 2 and pulled off a nasty move on Paolo Banchero.

Cade Cunningham’s Filthy Move on Paolo Banchero Leaves Fans in Awe – “Sent Him to Hell”

Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero (Image credits - Firstsportz)

In Short
  • Cade Cunningham led the Detroit Pistons to a 98-83 victory over the Orlando Magic, leveling the playoff series at 1-1.
  • Cunningham showcased a standout performance with 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 11 assists, demonstrating his recovery from a collapsed lung.
  • Fans reacted enthusiastically to Cunningham's impressive move on Paolo Banchero, highlighting the excitement surrounding the matchup between the two former number one draft picks.

The Detroit Pistons, led by Cade Cunningham, had their backs against the wall after a disappointing loss in game one against the Orlando Magic. They bounced back strongly in game two as they registered a convincing 98-83 victory at the Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday night.

With a little under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Pistons were up by 19. Cunningham brought up the ball and was matched up against Paolo Banchero.

The Pistons guard pulled off an in-and-out dribble, went by Banchero, and scored a driving layup. It sent Banchero the wrong way, who was completely puzzled by the move.

It was much needed for the Pistons as they have now leveled the series before games three and four in Orlando. Cade Cunningham was at his very best on Wednesday as he posted a double-double. He scored a game-high 27 points to go along with six rebounds and 11 assists in under 38 minutes.

A month before the postseason, the Pistons were dealt a major blow when Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung. It was a huge setback as Cunningham was having an MVP-caliber season. It was a complicated road to recovery, but the 24-year-old made a remarkable return in just three weeks and hasn’t missed a beat since.

Meanwhile, Paolo Banchero was coming off an impressive Game 1 performance, which saw the Magic win on the road. Banchero has had an inconsistent 2025-26 campaign, which has led to some criticism.

The Magic made it to the playoffs through the Play-In Tournament and were draw against the best team in the Eastern Conference this year. They will be optimistic of their chances as they head home with the series at 1-1 and a road win under their belt.

Fans react to Cade Cunningham’s in-and-out dribble on Paolo Banchero

Both Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero were number one picks in the 2021 and 2022 NBA drafts, respectively. At first, it looked like Banchero was a better pick after his growth in the last two years, while Cunningham suffered from a season-ending injury in the 2022-23 campaign. But things have shifted now as Cunningham has elevated himself as one of the best players in the league this season.

His move on Banchero sent the forward in the wrong direction, and the fans could not keep their calm across social media.

Fans praised the move pulled off by Cunningham. Banchero will be looking for some revenge in game three in front of his home crowd.

Cade Cunningham gives Isaiah Stewart his flowers

In game one, Cade Cunningham did what he does best. He scored 39 points on the night but had little to no help from his teammates. This was a concern for the Pistons heading into the playoffs as they lack consistent scorers after their point guard.

However, it was different in game two as he got strong support from multiple teammates. All starters recorded double-digit points, and they got a huge boost off the bench from Isaiah Stewart.

Isaiah Stewart
Isaiah Stewart (Image via Yardbarker)

After the game, Cunningham heaped praise on the backup center, who provided some crucial minutes off the bench in game two.

Stew [Isaiah Stewart] was huge. Protecting the rim, dominating inside… getting us extra shots. I mean doing it all. He’s such a versatile player.

Cade Cunningham in his post-match media scrum

Stewart is often caught up in the news for the wrong reasons. However, he deserved his flowers for his performance on Wednesday. In nearly 16 minutes of play, he recorded 10 points, five rebounds, and had two blocks. The Pistons will be looking for more from their center and the rest of the team as the series moves to Orlando.

Also Read: