Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) handles the ball against Milwaukee Bucks guard Cormac Ryan (30) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Pistons' Cade Cunningham has triumphant return vs. Bucks

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Apr 8, 2026 11:38 PM ET

In his first game back on the court since March 17, Cade Cunningham recorded a double-double as part of the Detroit Pistons' 137-111 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Cunningham logged 26 minutes in the game after Detroit revealed its decision to play him earlier in the day.

He scored 13 points, connecting on 6-of-11 shots from the field, with 10 assists, five rebounds and even adding a block and a steal as well.

A collapsed lung derailed Cade Cunningham's MVP candidacy

His return came after missing 11 games, stemming from enduring a collapsed lung in a March 17 win against the Washington Wizards.

Before Cunningham's extended absence, he was an MVP candidate and up for consideration to be named a first-team All-NBA player.

Cade's got a double-double in his first game back since March 17

13 PTS
10 AST

Pistons lead in Q4! pic.twitter.com/NdFuxjIvQy
— NBA (@NBA) April 9, 2026

Cunningham will miss the games limit cut to qualify for awards

But due to the league's games played stipulation, Cunningham will fall just shy of the required total of 65 games in order to be a candidate for any awards or individual recognition. Wednesday marked Cunningham's 62nd game played, but with only two remaining in the regular season, he's run out of time to get to 65.

Cunningham, who was an All-Star for the second consecutive year, has season averages of 24.4 points, 5.6 boards and 9.9 assists while shooting 46.2%.

Cunningham is back just in time for the Pistons

However, getting Cunningham back in time for the postseason is the only thing that matters for the Pistons. And most importantly, Detroit managed to stay at the top of the Eastern Conference standings minus Cunningham, largely thanks to the emergence of Jalen Duren, who led the way again with 21 points and nine rebounds against the Bucks.

With their latest win, the Pistons are now 58-22 and will enter the playoffs as the East's No. 1 seed. Detroit is one win away from matching the franchise's most recent win total high - the Pistons went 59-23 in the 2007-08 season.

To his credit, Cunningham's play, when available, set Detroit up for the franchise's best regular season in almost 20 years.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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