By james art 
Detroit-power between two All-Star Point guards occurred on Friday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Introducing Dallas Maverix was Kiri Irving, the veteran who has eight performances on all stars under his belt. At the opposite end was Cade Kentingham, one of the latest all the NBA stars, who was honored for the first time. It was the most tale in the ongoing dynamics of the League of an established star that competes against the one that adds to its own summary.
However, the attempt did not prevail this time. The Irving Maivars suffered a loss of 117-102 to Cunnigham and Pistons in Detroit. It was the first loss of five Mavericks trip, which continues in Cleveland on Sunday.
The game was similar to a tractor match, as Cunningham and Irving returned back and forth using their universal offensive skills to put in. Irving, fresh from missing from All-Star Game next month in San Francisco, had a slow start as he missed all three goals in the first quarter.
This was not the case for the rest of the game. After he went to the first, Irving found his groove and produced 12 points in the second quarter and 14 in the third. Mavericks gave up about 19 in the fourth, so minutes were shortened in the last quarter.
His 28 points, six rebounds and three assists led Mavericks. Its main source of aid was from PJ Washington, which had a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Cunningham broke out for 40 points with six rebounds and four assists until he caused the bigger part of his damage inside the paint. A brilliant example was in the decreasing seconds of the third quarter, when he used his dribble to avoid Daniel Gafford, which made him fall, and put his left hand over Maverix forward Nazi Marshall.
Cunningham was removed by 24 hours since the announcement of the All-Star reserve for the Eastern Conference. Irving was 24 hours since missing what was his ninth appearance on All-Star.
In addition to the duel of Irving and Kenningham, there were many intriguing developments throughout the game.
Mavericks guard Dante Ecum made his debut of the season on Friday night after missing the first 48 games with a right wrist injury, which requires surgery in October. It was on a 15-minute limit and did not check the game until the second quarter. His first shot attempt was a 3-indicated wing at the end of the second quarter that appeared. Exum finished with three points and an assist.
The Maveri gave up from 17 when coach Jason Kid waved with the white flag with four minutes left, remained emptying his bench and putting ecsem, Jaden Hardy, Olivier-Maxens Prosper, Kessler Edwards and Kaylor Kelly.
Pistons played without Isaiah Stewart, their best Rome-protector, as the big man was stopped for the match on Friday for the accumulation of his sixth floral foul during the season. Without it, Maverix scored 46 points in the paint. This Mark has reduced compared to Pistons, which scored 62 points inside the paint.
Cunningham was responsible for the greater part of these damage. He received MVP chants in the middle of the fourth quarter during a rare trip to the free throw line. These chants intensified by 1:31, left when he checked the game last. After losing losses in his previous two games against his hometown of Maverix, he finally prevailed with victory.
Mavericks will host Pistons again on March 21st. Until then, Irving should have a five-time All-Star next to him named Luka Doncic.
But on this occasion, Kenningham’s excellent performance prints why he will represent Pistons in San Francisco next month.
Twitter: @Mikeacurtis2
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