After a long wait, the new-look Detroit Pistons finally got their first taste of regular season action under their belt. Even though they didn’t manage to come away with a victory, they fought hard and held on until the end. The Indiana Pacers managed to barely outlast them, earning a 115-109 victory.

For the Pistons, the standout performer was Cade Cunningham. The young guard kicked off his fourth year in the league with a bang, posting a stat line of 28 points, five rebounds and eight assists.

Coming into this season, Cunningham was a player many were watching as a potential candidate. he showed why Wednesday night, doing a little bit of everything for the Pistons. Even though he wasn’t able to lead his team to victory, it was a solid outing to start the year for Detroit’s top prospect.

Everything Cunningham did during the half worked a lot for him, as he did the most damage in the third quarter. Playing almost the entire period, he recorded 18 points and two assists on a near-perfect 8-for-9 shooting from the field.

After the game, Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff was asked about Cunningham’s ability to step up in the third quarter. He praised him for his performance and continues to emphasize that he is one of the best young talents in the league.

“That’s who he is,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s one of the elite talents in our league. He has the ability to stay with it, keep it going like he did tonight. That’s what we’re going to need from him all year.”

For Bickerstaff, it was an opportunity to get his first victory as head coach of the Pistons. He won’t have to wait long for his next chance, as Cunningham and company will be back in action on Friday. The Pistons’ next game should be especially important for Bickerstaff, as he will face his former team the Cleveland Cavaliers.