Detroit Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham has suffered a collapsed lung and is expected to miss at least two weeks, with the possibility of a longer absence, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press on Thursday. The exact timeline for his return remains uncertain.
Cunningham sustained the injury during Tuesday's win over the Washington Wizards, leaving the game midway through the first quarter with back spasms after diving for a loose ball and colliding with Wizards guard Tre Johnson. The Pistons initially listed him as out for Thursday's game in Washington with a back contusion.
The regular season concludes in less than four weeks, and the Pistons, who entered Thursday with a 49-19 record—three and a half games ahead of the Boston Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference—would not begin their playoff campaign until 18 or 19 April. Cunningham has been instrumental in Detroit's resurgence, averaging 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game this season.
Having played in 61 games, an extended absence could jeopardise Cunningham's eligibility for postseason awards, including All-NBA honours, which require a minimum of 65 games played. The Pistons are on track for their best season in nearly two decades.
