What happened: Cade Cunningham buried a 25-foot three off an Ausar Thompson assist with 9:01 left in the first quarter, per an ESPN play-by-play feed. The make put the score at 4-5 in the opening minutes. The bucket came inside the first three minutes of game action.

Why it matters: The early possession underscores Detroit's perimeter-creation engine running through Cunningham, with Thompson serving as a connective playmaker rather than a finisher. In a tight opening stretch, every early three swings expected-points math and forces the opposing defense to extend coverage above the arc. Cunningham's gravity from deep is a structural feature of Detroit's offense in this postseason run.

What to watch: Watch whether Cunningham keeps pulling from 25-plus feet and whether Thompson's assist rate climbs as the game settles. First-quarter pace and three-point volume will signal how both sides intend to play this one.