Cade Cunningham Injury Update, Return Timeline Reportedly Revealed for Pistons Ahead of NBA Playoffs
Cade Cunningham, who has been out since March 17 due to a collapsed lung, is going to see some game action before the Detroit Pistons open the playoffs.
Per ESPN's Vincent Goodwill, Cunningham is expected to play against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.
Cunningham suffered the injury during the Pistons' 130-117 win over the Washington Wizards when he collided with Tre Johnson while diving for a loose ball in the first quarter.
TOP NEWS
Bron Dismisses Jabari's Take 😯
Every NBA Team's Toughest Free-Agency Decision 😬
John Wall Named CBB Team President
Even though he attempted to remain in the game, Cunningham checked out soon after didn't return. The Pistons announced two days later that he was officially diagnosed with a collapsed lung and would be re-evaluated in two weeks.
On April 2, the Pistons updated Cunningham's status to say he would miss at least one more week.
There have been hints recently that Cunningham was nearing a return. He was upgraded to doubtful on Detroit's official injury report prior to Monday's game against the Orlando Magic.
"Both of them are progressing. They are doing more and more each day," Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart. "With both of these things, it is always about how you respond the next day. I don't want to jump out there and say anything, but so far, so good. They are taking steps in the right direction."
The Pistons will presumably exercise extreme caution with Cunningham to avoid putting undue stress on his body with the postseason on the horizon. Detroit has already clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
If Cunningham had not returned before the end of the season, he would have gone at least 32 days between games depending on when the Pistons host Game 1 of their first-round series.
Cunningham leads the Pistons in scoring average (24.5) and assists (9.9) in 61 starts this season.
Detroit will close out the regular season against the Bucks on Wednesday, followed by road games against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday and Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
