{"id":697982,"date":"2026-04-04T15:54:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T15:54:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/697982\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T15:54:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T15:54:20","slug":"detroit-pistons-get-good-news-for-game-vs-76ers-amid-cade-cunningham-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/697982\/","title":{"rendered":"Detroit Pistons Get Good News For Game vs. 76ers Amid Cade Cunningham Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Detroit\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – MARCH 12: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons looks on in the second half while playing the Philadelphia 76ers at Little Caesars Arena on March 12, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. <\/p>\n

The Detroit Pistons<\/a> will clinch the first seed in the Eastern Conference with a win in their upcoming game against the Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> on Saturday, April 4.<\/p>\n

Detroit previously<\/a> had the chance to clinch the top seed in the East for the playoffs on Friday, but after the Boston Celtics<\/a> had a dominant win, they will instead have to wait to seal their own fate for the postseason.<\/p>\n

The Pistons have been atop the East standings<\/a> for most of the year, and while they already clinched a playoff appearance and division title<\/a>, they are one step away from holding the top seed in the postseason for the first time in 19 years.<\/p>\n

Postseason scenario for Saturday, April 4 \u2b07\ufe0f <\/p>\n

While Detroit can grab a firm hold on the top seed on Saturday, the key game against the 76ers comes amid a loaded injury report, one that notably still features franchise star Cade Cunningham<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cade Cunningham Injury Update\"Cade<\/p>\n

GettyThe NBPA is calling for the 65-game eligibility rule to be \u2018abolished or reformed\u2019 after the injury to Detroit Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham.<\/p>\n

Cunningham has been out for a few weeks after suffering a collapsed lung<\/a> in March. It was recently reported that he expects to sit out a little while longer, and with that, the star is now ineligible for NBA<\/a> end-of-season awards, as he won\u2019t hit the 65-game mark to qualify.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Pistons said Cunningham is working to return to the court, is being supervised by doctors and Detroit\u2019s medical and performance staff and will be reevaluated in one week,\u201d Jamal Collier of ESPN wrote on Cunningham and the injury<\/a>. \u201cHe has been sidelined since March 19, but he has rejoined the team in street clothes recently, sitting on the bench for its two most recent home games this week for the first time since the injury.\u201d<\/p>\n

While there were previously concerns about Cunningham\u2019s status for the playoffs regarding a potential return date, recent injury updates signal that he will be back on the court soon.<\/p>\n

Cade Cunningham is making progress in his return from suffering a collapsed lung, and the Pistons plan to re-evaluate the star in one week.<\/p>\n

He will miss out on NBA awards, since he\u2019s played 61 games and won\u2019t reach the 65-game rule to qualify for votes. He had certainly earned <\/p>\n

However, that doesn\u2019t mean he\u2019ll qualify for an All-NBA team, the MVP award, or any end-of-season awards for that matter<\/a>, as with just 61 games under his belt, based on the new re-evaluation news, the Pistons don\u2019t have enough games in their schedule to help Cunningham hit the 65-game mark.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand the intent of the rule, but a guy like Cade shouldn\u2019t be punished for having a major injury late in the season,\u201d Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic<\/a>. \u201cFirst team All-NBA, MVP, all those things \u2014 it\u2019s meaningful. Whether it\u2019s now or 10 years from now, when you look back, it has meaning and value to guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 9.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.9 blocks on 46.1% shooting from the field this season.<\/p>\n

Detroit Pistons Injury Report vs. Philadelphia 76ers\"Isaiah<\/p>\n

GettyIsaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons react after a basket with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.<\/p>\n

Along with Cunningham, who is expected to be out at least a few more games, Detroit has a few key players listed on the injury report<\/a> in the lead-up to the game against the 76ers.<\/p>\n

First of which is Isaiah Stewart,<\/a> who is ruled out with a calf strain. The injury has sidelined the enforcer for three weeks, and the 24-year-old does not have a direct timeline<\/a> for a return. He is averaging ten points and 5.1 rebounds on 54.1% shooting in 55 games this year.<\/p>\n

The Pistons also have Tobias Harris<\/a> listed as questionable<\/a> with a knee injury. Harris has been a big part of Detroit\u2019s success this season, but as for the game against Philadelphia over the weekend, his status is still in question.<\/p>\n

Injury report ! Tob\u00edas looks like only contusion. <\/p>\n

Marcus Sasser<\/a> is probable with a hip strain, but he has been a consistent name on the team\u2019s injury report over the past few games.<\/p>\n

As for the 76ers, a team further down the standings in the East compared to the Pistons, they have Paul George<\/a> and Joel Embiid<\/a> listed as day-to-day, both of whom are slowly recovering from long-term absences. Embiid has been feuding recently<\/a> with the team over his injury status, but for now, the official verdict on him and George playing is still uncertain.<\/p>\n

The Pistons are 56-21 and first in the East. While they already clinched the playoffs<\/a> much earlier in the year, With a win over the Sixers, they will clinch the top seed in the playoffs for the first time in 19 years, meaning they could lose the final four games of the regular season and still sit above the Celtics, New York Knicks<\/a>, and everyone else in the conference for the number one seed.<\/p>\n

The game on Saturday remains a key matchup for the young Detroit team, who have been one of the biggest surprises of the NBA season, as they will continue lean on Jalen Duren<\/a> and Daniss Jenkins<\/a> while Cunningham remains out.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEli Gregorski<\/a> is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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