Cade Cunningham Injury Triggers DraftKings Early Exit Refunds

Pistons star exits game against Wizards with back injury, bets on his performance lines to be refunded.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 11:56pm

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Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham suffered a back injury during the first half of Tuesday's game against the Washington Wizards, forcing him to leave the game and not return. As a result, DraftKings' new Early Exit program will provide cash credits to anyone who made a single bet on Cunningham's performance, while parlay bets will have the Cunningham leg removed and the odds recalculated.

Why it matters

Cunningham's injury is a significant blow to the Pistons, who are fighting for a playoff spot. The Early Exit program from DraftKings helps protect bettors who wagered on Cunningham's expected production, which was disrupted by the unexpected injury.

The details

Cunningham exited the game against the Wizards in the first half due to a back injury. DraftKings' new Early Exit program will provide cash credits to anyone who made a single bet on Cunningham, while parlay bets will have the Cunningham leg removed and the odds recalculated.

  • Cunningham left the game against the Wizards in the first half on March 17, 2026.

The players

Cade Cunningham

A star player for the Detroit Pistons who suffered a back injury during Tuesday's game against the Washington Wizards.

DraftKings

An online sports betting and fantasy sports provider that has implemented an Early Exit program to protect bettors when players unexpectedly exit games due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“Cade Cunningham has been ruled out — Early Exit is in effect. All qualifying bets (including LIVE), will be honored and tagged as Early Exit Protected.”

— DraftKings Support (Twitter)

What’s next

The Pistons will provide updates on the severity of Cunningham's back injury and his timeline for return. DraftKings will process the Early Exit refunds for bets placed on Cunningham's performance.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of sports betting providers offering protections for bettors when unexpected player injuries occur, ensuring a fair and transparent experience for customers.