Pistons' Cade Cunningham to Miss More Time with Lung Injury

Rookie star will be re-evaluated in a week, likely out for rest of regular season

Apr. 2, 2026 at 6:36pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the overlapping perspectives of a basketball player's collision, rendered in muted tones of navy, green, and orange to convey the serious nature of the injury.A cubist interpretation of the collision that led to Cade Cunningham's season-altering lung injury, highlighting the fragmented nature of the incident.Today in Detroit

Detroit Pistons rookie Cade Cunningham will remain sidelined for at least another week as he recovers from a collapsed lung injury suffered in a game against the Washington Wizards on March 17. The Pistons announced that Cunningham will be re-evaluated after this additional week, but there is growing optimism he will return in time for the playoffs that begin on April 18.

Why it matters

Cunningham was having an outstanding rookie season and was in the conversation for NBA MVP and All-NBA team honors. However, due to the timing of his injury, he will now fall short of the league's 65-game minimum to be eligible for those postseason awards. The Pistons have managed to maintain the top seed in the Eastern Conference without Cunningham, giving them the luxury of being cautious with his recovery.

The details

Cunningham suffered the left lung pneumothorax injury in a collision with Wizards rookie Tre Johnson while diving for a loose ball on March 17. He did not return to that game and has now missed the Pistons' last 8 games. Despite Cunningham's absence, the Pistons have gone an impressive 6-2 and remain 4 games ahead of the Celtics for the East's top playoff seed with 6 games left in the regular season.

  • Cunningham was injured in the first quarter of the Pistons' game against the Wizards on March 17.
  • The Pistons announced on April 2 that Cunningham will remain out for at least another week and be re-evaluated at that time.

The players

Cade Cunningham

The Pistons' rookie sensation who was having an MVP-caliber season before suffering a collapsed lung injury.

Tre Johnson

Washington Wizards rookie who was involved in the collision that led to Cunningham's lung injury.

Detroit Pistons

The NBA team that Cunningham plays for, currently holding the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

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What they’re saying

“With that timeline, Cunningham will not reach the 65-game cutoff and will not be eligible for postseason awards.”

— Kurt Helin, Author

What’s next

The Pistons will re-evaluate Cunningham's status in a week to determine if he can return before the playoffs begin on April 18.

The takeaway

Cunningham's injury is a significant setback for the young star, as it will cost him a chance at individual accolades like MVP and All-NBA despite the Pistons' success in his absence. However, the team's strong play without him has allowed them to be cautious with his recovery, prioritizing his health for a potential playoff run.