Pistons make late Cade Cunningham decision before Bucks game

His absence hit Detroit hard over the final weeks. Cunningham leads the team in scoring and assists, and the offense runs through his decision-making.

He also brings defensive stability and versatility across different matchups, which matters when the stakes ramp up in the postseason.

Pistons surge without Cade Cunningham

Detroit went 8-3 without Cunningham during his late-season stretch on the sideline. The Pistons posted a 13-5 record overall in games he missed and still averaged 114.8 points per game.

Those results showed the team could function without him, but they also raised a bigger concern. Now, with only three games left on the schedule, Cunningham can reach only 64 games played this season (provided he plays in all three). Meaning, he won't reach the 65-game threshold the league requires for major awards.

Unless he appeals for an "Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge," he will be knocked out of contention for awards such as MVP or all-NBA despite him putting together one of the strongest seasons in the league. The timing of the injury cost him more than just playing time.