The Detroit Pistons continue to move forward in the regular season while awaiting clarity on the status of franchise player Cade Cunningham.
With only a handful of games remaining in the regular season, Detroit has maintained its position atop the Eastern Conference standings, even with its leading scorer sidelined for more than two weeks now.
Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves will mark Cunningham’s ninth consecutive absence since the injury occurred in mid-March.
The Pistons provided an update before the game against the Wolves regarding Cade Cunningham’s recovery timeline.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
(© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
According to the statement, Cunningham “continues to progress in his return to play process under the supervision of physicians and Pistons medical and performance staff.”
“He will be reevaluated in one week,” the report finished, without providing a clear timeline for Cunningham’s return to the court. The NBA playoffs are scheduled to start on Apr. 18.
The update, meanwhile, confirms that Cunningham will miss at least another week and three more games within that span as he recovers from a left lung pneumothorax, also known as a collapsed lung.
That means Cunningham will be ineligible for end-of-season awards, as he won’t meet the minimum 65-game-played quota. It’s a stretch to say Cunningham could win the MVP, but now he won’t be eligible for any All-NBA teams, either.
Cunningham initially left a March 17 game against the Washington Wizards after diving for a loose ball and colliding with Tre Johnson.
The Pistons guard has been a key figure in Detroit’s climb up the Eastern Conference pecking order, averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds across 61 games this season.
Despite the setback, Detroit has to win games, going 6-2 with Cunningham sidelined. The Pistons hold a 55-21 record and clinched the Central Division, their first division title since the 2007-08 season, on Wednesday.
The Pistons have six games remaining in the regular season and can lock the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference by winning two of those matchups.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.