Cade Cunningham Expected Back vs. Bucks on Wednesday
Detroit Pistons star guard Cade Cunningham is expected to return to the court on Wednesday when the team hosts the Milwaukee Bucks at Little Caesars Arena, marking his first action since suffering a collapsed left lung more than three weeks ago.
Cunningham has missed the Pistons' last 11 games following the injury, which occurred on March 17 during a 130-117 victory over the Washington Wizards. The fifth-year guard collided with Wizards forward Tre Johnson while diving for a loose ball in the first quarter, playing just five minutes before exiting. Initially described as back spasms and later a back contusion, the condition was diagnosed two days later as a left lung pneumothorax, requiring an extended absence. The team announced on March 19 that he would be reevaluated in two weeks, followed by an update on April 2 extending his timeline by at least one more week.
Recent progress has accelerated his recovery. Cunningham was upgraded to doubtful for Monday's game against the Orlando Magic, where he was ultimately ruled out after an on-court workout. He now enters a return-to-play protocol under team supervision, with optimism building for a pre-playoff appearance. "Cade...