{"id":705342,"date":"2026-04-08T14:23:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/705342\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:23:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:23:26","slug":"detroit-pistons-announce-cade-cunningham-injury-update-for-game-vs-bucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/705342\/","title":{"rendered":"Detroit Pistons Announce Cade Cunningham Injury Update For Game Vs. Bucks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\t<img width=\"780\" height=\"439\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775658198_319_GettyImages-2260621600_dc8561-e1774379951300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-featured-image size-featured-image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Cade Cunningham\"   decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>The NBPA is calling for the 65-game eligibility rule to be &#8216;abolished or reformed&#8217; after the injury to Detroit Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/cade-cunningham\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cade Cunningham<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/detroit-pistons\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Detroit Pistons<\/a> has been sidelined with a collapsed lung for nearly three weeks, but the franchise star and MVP candidate could be making his return against the <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/milwaukee-bucks\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Milwaukee Bucks<\/a>\u00a0on Wednesday, April 8.<\/p>\n<p>While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/48378921\/pistons-cunningham-collapsed-lung-least-another-week\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">a previous injury update<\/a> on the 24-year-old hinted that he could miss more time, based on new reporting from Shams Charania of ESPN, <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/detroit-pistons\/cade-cunningham-injury-update-return-date\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cunningham could very well make his return<\/a> against the Bucks.<\/p>\n<p>The Pistons have only three games remaining on their <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/detroit-pistons\/#season_schedule\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">2025-26 NBA regular-season schedule<\/a>, and, as the plan has always been to get Cunningham healthy for the playoffs, a new injury return timeline has emerged that could see him return to the court sooner than expected.<\/p>\n<p>Cade Cunningham Injury Update<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5880939\" class=\"size-large wp-image-5880939\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775658203_639_GettyImages-2266224258-1-e1775316913765.jpg\" alt=\"Detroit Pistons can clinch first seed in Eastern Conference playoffs with win vs. Philadelphia 76ers amid Cade Cunningham injury update, Cade Cunningham injury return timeline date, Pistons vs. Orlando Magic, Pistons injury report\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5880939\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN \u2013 MARCH 12: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons looks on in the second half while playing the <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/philadelphia-76ers\/\" title=\"Philadelphia 76ers\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"218900\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> at Little Caesars Arena on March 12, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan.<\/p>\n<p>Cunningham is<a href=\"https:\/\/ak-static.cms.nba.com\/referee\/injury\/Injury-Report_2026-04-08_09_00AM.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\"> officially listed as questionable<\/a> for Detroit\u2019s upcoming game against Milwaukee.<\/p>\n<p>It comes after he was upgraded from \u2018out\u2019 to \u2018doubtful\u2019 when the team played the <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/orlando-magic\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Orlando Magic<\/a> on Monday, but he didn\u2019t end up playing.<\/p>\n<p>What his upgraded injury status signals is that Cunningham is ramping up for a return. It\u2019s uncertain whether that will happen on Wednesday in the Pistons\u2019 final home game of the season, but now listed as questionable, it\u2019s the biggest status leap Cunningham has taken since originally being ruled out for \u2018an extended period\u2019 in mid March.<\/p>\n<p>According to Shams Charania, the star point guard is only getting closer to a return.<\/p>\n<p>Shams:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCade Cunningham is getting close on a return to action. There is optimism that he\u2019s gonna be back before the season is over potentially before the playoffs. He is in a return to play protocol now\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe got an on-court workout in today. He\u2019s going to get another in in the next couple of days as well. They\u2019re going to evaluate him every single day,\u201d\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ohnohedidnt24\/status\/2041238480613695699\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">Charania said on NBA Today<\/a>. \u201cCade Cunningham is getting close on a return to action. There is optimism that he\u2019s gonna be back before the season is over potentially before the playoffs. But he is in a return to play protocol now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For now, Cunningham\u2019s official injury status for Wednesday is still uncertain, but since he\u2019s been upgraded, it points to the fact that he could very well make a return against the Bucks.<\/p>\n<p>In 61 games this season, Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 9.9 assists on 46.1% shooting. He was previously a top<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/kia-mvp-ladder-feb-6-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/kia-mvp-ladder-feb-6-2026\">\u00a0MVP candidate<\/a> before going out with the injury, but is now ineligible for end-of-season awards.<\/p>\n<p>Detroit Pistons In The Final Week Of The Regular Season<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5882324\" class=\"size-large wp-image-5882324\" data-lazy-load=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Copy-of-1920-21.png\" alt=\"Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons.\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5882324\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GettyCade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons.<\/p>\n<p>As mentioned, Cunningham is officially questionable against Milwaukee.<\/p>\n<p>Along with him, the Pistons have <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/isaiah-stewart\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Isaiah Stewart<\/a> listed on the injury report, now listed as questionable as well, with a calf strain that has sidelined him for nearly four weeks.<\/p>\n<p>While players like <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/tobias-harris\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tobias Harris<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/duncan-robinson\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Duncan Robinson<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/caris-levert\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Caris LeVert<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/jalen-duren\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jalen Duren<\/a> have all been on the injury report at some time over the past few games, all are healthy and set to play against the Bucks on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, more good news for Detroit is that they <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DetroitPistons\/status\/2040601424157987083\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">have clinched the top seed<\/a> in the Eastern Conference for the first time in 19 years. The Pistons are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/standings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">57-22 with a three-game lead<\/a> over the <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/boston-celtics\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Boston Celtics<\/a>, also holding the tiebreaker over them.<\/p>\n<p>Despite playing without Cunningham, they have gone 8-3 while he\u2019s been sidelined, in part due to strong play from Duren and <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/nba\/player\/daniss-jenkins\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Daniss Jenkins<\/a>, who has become the Pistons\u2019 new starting point guard over the past few weeks. <a href=\"https:\/\/pistonpowered.com\/cade-cunningham-injury-update-brings-huge-question-detroit-pistons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external nofollow\">Questions remain about Jenkins\u2019 role<\/a> when Cunningham returns, but for the time being, he\u2019s been a solid replacement, having a standout performance in his new role.<\/p>\n<p>But as this Detroit team has yet to win a postseason round, it will be tough sledding in the playoffs against other top teams in the East. Regardless, if they can get Cunningham back soon and ready for postseason basketball, as they showed all season, this roster has the chance to be playing games deep into May, and even June in a conference finals or <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/sports\/nba\/\" title=\"NBA\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"218901\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NBA<\/a> finals appearance.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/eligregorski\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Eli 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.  <a href=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/author\/eligregorski\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">More about Eli Gregorski<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Pistons\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty The NBPA is calling for the 65-game eligibility rule to be &#8216;abolished or reformed&#8217; after the injury&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":702189,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3775],"tags":[7,103,102,121,3871,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-705342","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-milwaukee-bucks","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-bucks","10":"tag-milwaukee","11":"tag-milwaukee-bucks","12":"tag-milwaukeebucks","13":"tag-nba"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116369543597660991","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=705342"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/705342\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/702189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=705342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=705342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=705342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}