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Cade Cunningham Out Indefinitely with Collapsed Lung
Pistons star sidelined as team fights for top seed in East
Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:09pm
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Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and is expected to miss an extended period of time, dealing a major blow to the team's playoff push. Cunningham, who is averaging 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game, is the engine behind the Pistons' success this season as they battle for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Why it matters
The Pistons have been one of the surprise teams in the NBA this season, led by Cunningham's breakout campaign. His absence could open the door for the Boston Celtics, who are just 3.5 games back, to overtake Detroit for the No. 1 seed in the East with around 15 games left in the regular season.
The details
Collapsed lung injuries can vary in severity, with some athletes returning in as little as two weeks while others miss several weeks or even months. Recent examples include TJ Watt of the Steelers, who missed two games, and CJ McCollum, who missed 6 weeks in 2021 and 3 weeks in 2023 with the same issue. The Pistons will now have to rely more on young center Jalen Duren and their other guards to carry the load in Cunningham's absence.
- Cunningham was diagnosed with the collapsed lung on March 19, 2026.
The players
Cade Cunningham
The 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 9.9 assists per game that Cunningham is averaging this season have been crucial to the Pistons' success as they fight for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Jalen Duren
The young Pistons center will be counted on to step up in a bigger role with Cunningham sidelined.
Jayson Tatum
The Celtics star has helped his team climb to within 3.5 games of the Pistons for the No. 1 seed in the East, and Cunningham's injury could open the door for Boston to overtake Detroit.
What they’re saying
“Cade Cunningham will miss an extended period of time with a collapsed lung.”
— Shams Charania
What’s next
The Pistons will have to wait and see how long Cunningham is sidelined, with the severity of the collapsed lung injury determining his timeline for return. The team's next few games will be crucial as they try to hold off the surging Celtics for the top seed in the East.
The takeaway
Cunningham's injury is a major blow to the Pistons' playoff hopes, as the young star has been the driving force behind their success this season. The team will need to find a way to weather his absence, with Duren and the other guards stepping up, or risk losing the No. 1 seed in the East to the Celtics down the stretch.
