DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons will be proceeding without their All-Star guard, Cade Cunningham, for the third consecutive game due to a calf injury. Cunningham, an instrumental figure in the Pistons’ recent resurgence, is sidelined with a bruised left calf, missing their upcoming clash against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference this Friday night. The team has labelled his status as day-to-day following the injury he sustained during a matchup against the Dallas Mavericks last week.
Cunningham has been pivotal for Detroit, steering the team toward a potential home-court advantage in the opening round of the NBA playoffs. This marks a significant improvement for the Pistons, who previously held the league’s worst record over the past two seasons. Last season, the Pistons set a franchise low with a 28-game losing streak and ended the season with just 14 victories—slightly worse than the previous year’s 17 wins.
Thanks to Cunningham’s leadership and standout performances, Detroit finds itself in a position to avoid another losing season well ahead of the postseason. Drafted as the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, Cunningham has been delivering exceptional numbers, averaging 25.7 points, 9.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game, driving the Pistons’ remarkable turnaround.