The Detroit Pistons hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference and are looking to clinch their No. 1 seed ahead of the NBA Playoffs, but are doing so without their top star.
Their former first pick in the NBA Draft, Cade Cunningham, has led the Pistons’ charge through this season, with team-leading averages of 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per game. His assists average is also second-best in the NBA behind only Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic.
Along with those numbers, he’s averaging 5.6 rebounds per game and shoots over 46 percent for his field goals, all of which are major boosts for Detroit’s lineup when he’s on the court.
Unfortunately, he’s been on the sidelines recovering from a collapsed lung since March 17. He made a return to the Pistons’ bench on March 31, and a recent update arrived regarding when he could return to action, along with some unfortunate news for Cunningham.
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On Thursday, the Pistons announced that Cunningham is out at least another week. Based on the update, it seems likely he’ll continue his recovery and return for the start of his team’s playoff run, as Detroit doesn’t have many games left on the regular-season schedule.
However, the bad news for Cunningham arrives with that update. According to NBA on ESPN, he won’t be able to meet the 65-game minimum required for him to be eligible for end-of-season awards, which include NBA Most Valuable Player and All-NBA.
On Thursday, similar news arrived for Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards, who has been out for his team due to injury.
The Pistons were hosting Minnesota on Thursday evening, with Detroit attempting to get a necessary win towards clinching their No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. As of early April, they needed two more wins to get there, which would include defeating Minnesota.
Without Cunningham, they’ve gone 7-3 over their last 10 games, including wins over the Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, and Los Angeles Lakers.
And while those end-of-season awards are great accomplishments, having Cunningham back in the lineup and ready to contribute is essential for Detroit this month in the NBA Playoffs.
They’ll contend with the likes of some tough opposition in the East, including the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers, so having him present will be a significant boost toward Detroit’s chances of getting closer to another championship.
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