Key keywords: Cade "Killer" Cunningham, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, 2025 NBA Playoffs, playoff hit list, Niyo, Detroit Free Press, NBA First Round Matchup, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland The viral label “Killer” Cunningham has taken the NBA world by storm once again, after Detroit Free Press sports columnist Niyo broke the news that Detroit Pistons franchise star Cade Cunningham has added the Cleveland Cavaliers to his widely discussed playoff hit list ahead of the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference First Round. The “Killer” nickname first emerged during the 2024 NBA Playoffs, when Cunningham put up three consecutive 30-point performances to lead the 7-seed Pistons to a shocking upset over the 2-seed Philadelphia 76ers, following a first-round sweep of the Brooklyn Nets. After each series victory, Cunningham made a playful ritual of crossing the eliminated team off a physical whiteboard he kept in his locker, which fans soon dubbed his “playoff hit list.” He added the New York Knicks to the list later that postseason when the Pistons eliminated them in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, falling just one game short of a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. Ahead of the 2025 postseason, the Pistons finished the regular season with a 51-31 record, locking up the 3rd seed in the East and a first-round date with the 6-seed Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished the year with a 47-35 record led by All-Star backcourt Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. During a post-practice media availability earlier this week, Cunningham was asked about his whiteboard ritual, and he smiled and confirmed that the Cavaliers were the latest name added to the list. “Every team that stands between us and the trophy goes on the list,” Cunningham told reporters. “The Cavs are a talented team, we’ve had tough battles with them all regular season, but we’re ready to handle business. They’re on the list, and we’re going to cross them off soon.” The two teams split their four regular season matchups in 2024-25, with Cunningham averaging 31.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game against Cleveland, while Mitchell put up 29.8 points per game in those contests. The Cavaliers have publicly pushed back on the hit list talk, with head coach J.B. Bickerstaff telling reporters that his team is focused on their own game plan, not Cunningham’s pre-series rituals. “We respect Cade as one of the best young players in the league, but we don’t care about any list,” Bickerstaff said. “We’re coming to Detroit ready to win Game 1, and that’s all that matters right now.” The first game of the highly anticipated series is scheduled for April 20 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, with national broadcast coverage on ESPN. League analysts have named the series one of the most must-watch matchups of the first round, with many predicting it will go the full seven games.