LOS ANGELES (AFP) — A dominant Cade Cunningham scored 42 points as the National Basketball Association (NBA)-leading Detroit Pistons swatted aside the New York Knicks 126-111 Thursday on the basketball league’s return from its brief All-Star Game break.

Billed as a must-watch clash between two Eastern Conference-vying rivals each in red-hot form, the game at Madison Square Garden became an exhibition for Cunningham, who also provided 13 assists and eight rebounds.

The 24-year-old burnished his credentials as a Most Valuable Player contender, helping a young, surprise-package Pistons side to improve the best record in the entire NBA this season so far, to 41-13.

After the game, Cunningham insisted he and his side had proved “nothing” yet.

“It’s regular season, so we just have to keep on chipping at it, keep on growing, keep on getting better and preparing for the postseason,” he said.