Cade Cunningham scores 52 with 11 assists and no turnovers, a first since the NBA began tracking turnovers

Cade Cunningham scored a career-high 52 points with 11 assists and zero turnovers Thursday night as the Detroit Pistons outlasted the Washington Wizards 144-140 in double overtime. According to OptaSTATS, via the Associated Press, he is the first NBA player with 50 points, 10 assists and no turnovers in a game since the league began tracking turnovers in 1977-78.

Cunningham shot 16 of 25 from the field and 17 of 18 from the line in 48 minutes, per the ESPN box score. His previous career high was 46, also against Washington, a little over a year ago.

The record book, by the numbers

ESPN Research put the night in context:

1. Fifth player with a 50-point double-double and no turnovers since 1977-78, joining Michael Jordan (twice), Moses Malone, Carmelo Anthony and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
2. Tied for fourth on the Pistons' single-game scoring list with George Yardley's 52, behind Jerry Stackhouse (57), Kelly Tripucka (56) and Dave Bing (54).
3. Third Piston with a 50-point double-double, after Yardley and Blake Griffin.
4. 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, the most by a Detroit player in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98).

How the game kept going

Cunningham had 22 points after three quarters and scored 18 in the fourth. Young's 3-pointer at the buzzer tied it at 121. Washington then scored the first seven points of overtime to lead 128-121, and Cunningham answered with a jumper, two free throws and a 3 to tie it at 130. Duncan Robinson put Detroit ahead before Dybantsa, this year's No. 1 pick, tied it again with less than a second left.

In the second overtime Cunningham hit a 3 for a 135-132 lead, and Anthony Davis fouled out soon after. Cunningham's baseline basket made it 142-138 with 25.3 seconds left.

"It was the best I've ever done it in my NBA career for sure," Cunningham said.

Ausar Thompson had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double, and Daniss Jenkins scored 21 before fouling out. For Washington, Young had 37 points and 14 assists on 8-of-23 shooting, Davis had 30 points and 15 rebounds, and Alex Sarr scored 30 on 12-of-14 shooting. It was the franchise's first game with three 30-point scorers since Nov. 18, 1969, when the Baltimore Bullets got them from Mike Davis, Earl Monroe and Gus Johnson.

Detroit (8-3) plays at Miami on Saturday. Washington (4-9) has lost six straight and hosts Houston on Sunday.