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Cade Cunningham Returns With Double-Double as Pistons Lock Up East’s Top Seed

A collapsed lung left him short of the NBA’s 65-game awards threshold, raising the prospect of an extraordinary-circumstances appeal.

Overview

  • Cunningham, who rejoined the lineup Wednesday, logged 13 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in 26 minutes during Detroit’s 137-111 win over the Bucks.
  • He suffered a collapsed left lung on March 17 against the Wizards, missed 11 games, and later said the scare had him panicking as doctors kept his heart rate low during recovery.
  • The absence leaves him at 62 games with two to play, below the league’s 65-game minimum for awards such as MVP and All-NBA.
  • Cunningham said he respects the intent of the rule but called his case tough, and reporting notes he could seek an extraordinary-circumstances review that may require appearing in at least one of the final two games.
  • Detroit is 58-22 and secured the East’s No. 1 seed, and coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Cunningham’s minutes will be set on feel as the team tunes up against Charlotte on Friday and Indiana on Sunday.