Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham, 24, reportedly suffered a “mild” collapsed lung in a Tuesday night NBA game against the Washington Wizards, an injury that was initially suspected to be back spasms.

How to Watch

Watch NBA on NBC on NBC and streaming on Peacock. 

The injury seemed to occur when the potential NBA MVP contender was diving for a loose ball on the court in the game’s first quarter. Cunningham attempted to play through the injury, but was soon removed from the game.

Cunningham is having a phenomenal year and has the Detroit Pistons positioned as one of the top teams in the NBA’s Eastern Conference and league as a whole. To this point, Cunningham has averaged 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game across 61 games. Those stats are good enough for second most in the league this season. But depending on how long he is sidelined with this injury, he could fall just short of the 65-game threshold needed for regular season award eligibility in categories like All-NBA selection and MVP.

RELATED: The Full 2025-2026 NBA Schedule of Games on NBA on NBC and Peacock

Cade Cunningham’s injury, explained 

On Thursday, it was reported that Cunningham’s injury appears to be a potentially “mild” collapsed lung, which could sideline him for at least a few weeks. ESPN reports the team is still gathering information on the injury and working to determine how long it might be until Cunningham can return to action. The Pistons confirmed the diagnosis Thursday morning. The team said he will be reevaluated in two weeks.

What is a collapsed lung? How is it treated?

A collapsed lung, officially called a pneumothorax, occurs when there is air in the space between your chest wall and your lung, according to the Cleveland Clinic. When there is air in that space, it can build up and start to press against your lung, which can then cause it to partially or fully collapse. These types of injuries can happen spontaneously if abnormal air pockets occur, and can also be caused by injury or trauma.

Treatment for a collapsed lung can vary widely based on the severity. The most common treatment regimens include oxygen therapy; thoracentesis by placing a temporary needle between your ribs to evacuate the air in your chest; chest tube drainage to allow your lung to re-expand and heal; and chemical pleurodesis to attach your lung to your chest cavity to eliminate the extra space.

RELATED: Watch NBA Games Live on Peacock Right Here

Typical recovery time from a collapsed lung

Recovery time for a collapsed lung can vary based on the severity of the injury, but according to the Cleveland Clinic, the typical range of healing can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks once treated. As for Cunningham, the report notes there is some “optimism” that the NBA star could potentially be healthy and back in playing shape in time for the NBA Playoffs, which start on April 18. The team plans to reevaluate him in two weeks.

The Pistons are next scheduled to play on NBA on NBC later this month, when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, March 30 on Peacock. At this point, it seems they’ll have to figure out how to take on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder without their star point guard.