Cade Cunningham Collapsed Lung — Pistons Star Out at Least 2 Weeks, MVP Race and Playoffs Both Threatened
The Detroit Pistons just got the worst possible news with one month left in the regular season. Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a left lung pneumothorax — a collapsed lung — and will miss at least two weeks, the team announced Thursday morning. The injury is considered mild, and there is cautious optimism he returns for the playoffs. But with 14 games left, his MVP candidacy may already be gone.
Cade Cunningham Collapsed Lung — The Official Diagnosis
Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham has suffered a left lung pneumothorax — also known as a collapsed lung — and will be out at least two weeks, team officials announced Thursday. Cunningham's collapsed lung injury is considered mild, and the team is reportedly optimistic Cunningham will be back in time for the start of the NBA Playoffs on April 18.
The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons announced that Cunningham has a left lung pneumothorax and will be reevaluated in two weeks — meaning he will miss at least eight games from the regular season schedule.
How Cade Cunningham Got Hurt — The Loose Ball Play Against Washington
Cunningham appeared to suffer the injury when he dove for a loose ball and collided into Wizards guard Tre Johnson with 7:44 left in the first quarter of Tuesday's win over Washington. He played for a few more minutes before being taken out at the 6:40 mark, and was ruled out for the remainder of the game during the second quarter.
Cunningham was initially ruled out for Thursday's rematch vs. the Wizards with his injury designation listed as a left back contusion — but the official diagnosis revealed Thursday morning confirmed the condition is significantly more serious than back spasms or a contusion.
Collapsed Lung Recovery Time — What the CJ McCollum Comparison Tells Us
An NBA player suffering a collapsed lung is unusual but not unheard of. CJ McCollum dealt with a pneumothorax twice in his career. The first time took him just under six weeks to return. The second time he missed slightly less — about three and a half weeks before returning. It is not yet clear how similar Cunningham's injury is to what McCollum dealt with, but based on that general timeline there is a realistic chance Cunningham is ready when the playoffs begin.
Cade Cunningham Stats — MVP Race Now in Serious Jeopardy
Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game this season — MVP-caliber numbers that have led the Pistons to a 49-19 record and the top seed in the Eastern Conference. He was on the short list of MVP candidates and seemed a lock for his second straight All-NBA nomination.
The injury could also hurt Cunningham individually in a historic way. Cunningham has played in just 61 games this season. In order to be eligible for year-end awards, NBA players must appear in at least 65 games. Unless he can play in four more regular-season games, he will likely be ineligible for MVP, All-NBA, and other major individual honors for 2025-26.
Pistons vs Wizards Tonight — Detroit Still Plays Without Cade
With Cunningham sidelined, the Pistons figure to lean more heavily on Marcus Sasser, Daniss Jenkins, and Caris LeVert for ball-handling and playmaking. Detroit holds a 3.5-game lead over the No. 2 Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference — a cushion that provides breathing room even over an extended absence.
Tonight's Pistons vs Wizards rematch tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET and airs on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit. The game is also available on the NBA app and streaming services carrying local broadcasts. Detroit is a 90.4% favorite per current win probability models — even without their star on the floor.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture Shifts — Celtics and 76ers Both Benefit
The ripple effects of the Cade Cunningham collapsed lung injury could reshape the entire Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Celtics, currently 3.5 games back of Detroit for the No. 1 seed, now have a genuine shot at catching the Pistons if Detroit stumbles over the next two weeks without their leader. The Philadelphia 76ers, currently fighting for a Play-In spot, also stand to benefit from a weakened Detroit squad during the final stretch of the regular season.
