here was considerable doubt about whether the Pistons could carry their regular-season success into the playoffs, particularly because of concerns over the absence of a reliable second scoring option.
That concern showed up in Game 1, where Cade Cunningham poured in 39 points while no other teammate managed to reach double digits.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff pointed to the need for improved ball movement.
“It’s something we just need to pay attention to. I think they were spot on,” he said. “There were times in the games where we got stagnant. I feel like that happened to us because we got down early. Then it felt like there was so much weight, and so much pressure on each possession. Then, we got to a point where we were just trying to do it all and help hit a home run every time. So, again, I thought there were moments where we found what we needed to do and we just need to replicate that more often.”
Cunningham’s outing stood out as a major positive, especially given that he had recently missed time late in the season due to a collapsed lung.
“I felt great. I really felt great,” he said. “It’s been a lot of time in between (Sunday) and the injury for me now. I’ve had great preparation – training staff, weight room staff – everybody’s put a lot of time in with me. I feel great. There was a stint towards the end [of the game] that I was a little tired. I came out for a minute or two, coach got me a break, and then after that, I felt good to finish the game. So, I feel great. Excited for the next.”
Pistons Notes: Game 1 Loss, Offense, Cunningham, Duren, Confidence https://t.co/thJap05Sw6 pic.twitter.com/8sgpaRXxDl
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 20, 2026
