While Pistons fans hoped for a step forward this season with J.B. Bickerstaff in charge, few anticipated the kind of leap they would take, spearheaded by Cade Cunningham flourishing into an All-Star player.

Cade Cunningham scored 24 points, Ausar Thompson added 22 and each made a clutch shot in the final two minutes to help the visiting Detroit Pistons avoid elimination in the first round of the playoffs with a gritty 106-103 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 5 on Tuesday.

The Detroit Pistons, after shocking the NBA world and making the playoffs outright as the sixth seed, are looking to build on their success. Cade Cunningham is the centerpiece, but with plenty of young players on affordable contracts,