Cade Cunningham Injury: Cunningham Suffers Collapsed Lung; Pistons Title Odds Slip Following News
The Detroit Pistons received a scare involving their franchise superstar—but it’s not the worst-case scenario.
All-Star guard Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a left lung pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and will miss at least two weeks, the team announced. The good news: the injury is considered mild, and there’s growing belief Cunningham could return in time for the start of the NBA Playoffs on April 18.
The injury stems from Tuesday night’s game against the Washington Wizards, where Cunningham exited early in the first quarter. Initially labeled as back spasms, the issue turned out to be more serious following further evaluation.
The play occurred when Cunningham collided with Washington’s Tre Johnson while diving for a loose ball with 7:44 remaining in the opening quarter. He was clearly in discomfort, left the game shortly after, and the team ruled him out before halftime.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is expected to address the situation further ahead of Detroit’s matchup in Washington.
Pistons Staying Afloat—But Cade Cunningham Injury Changes Things
Even without their star, Detroit has held strong, going 5-2 in games Cunningham has missed. Wins over the Bulls (twice), Pacers, Pelicans, and 76ers have helped keep momentum rolling, though losses to the Clippers and Nets show the margin is thin.
Still, this injury has already made an impact beyond the court.
Detroit’s NBA Championship odds have dropped from +2400 to +3000 following the news—a clear sign that Vegas understands just how valuable Cunningham is to this team’s title hopes.
A Historic Season on Pause
Before the injury, Cunningham was putting together one of the best seasons in franchise history, averaging 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game.
If he maintains that pace, he would become just the ninth player in NBA history to average at least 24 points and 9 assists in a season—and the first to ever do it in a Pistons uniform.
The timing, however, creates another wrinkle.
Cunningham has played in 61 games this season and needs 65 to qualify for major awards such as MVP and All-NBA honors. With a two-week absence looming, that milestone is now in serious jeopardy.
Despite the setback, Detroit (49-19) remains in a strong position, holding a 3.5-game lead over the Boston Celtics for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
With 14 games remaining in the regular season, the Pistons’ focus is simple: stay healthy, maintain their position, and have their superstar ready when the games matter most.
