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After missing 11 games due to a diagnosis of a left lung pneumothorax (collapsed lung) on March 17, 2026, Cade Cunningham rejoined the Detroit Pistons in April of that same year. Before making a comeback after missing many weeks of activity, he played in 63 games this season and received the all-clear to play in the postseason.

After recovering from a collapsed lung in March, Cade Cunningham played and excelled in Game 1 of the playoffs on April 19, 2026, scoring 39 points. Despite having just returned after an 11-game hiatus, he is anticipated to participate in the upcoming game as he is active for the Pistons' first-round series against the Orlando Magic .

Detroit Pistons enter playoffs healthy as Cade Cunningham returns from lung injury but team adjustments remain key
Getting to rest up for the postseason has been one of the main advantages of the Detroit Pistons securing the top seed in the East early. After achieving its first 60-win season in 20 years and reintroducing Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart to the rotation following protracted absences, Detroit still had some work to do in the final stretch.

However, they are in a fantastic health position heading into Sunday's Game 1 against the Orlando Magic thanks to getting to rotate their players and going almost a week without a game. That was evident from the Pistons' early injury report on Saturday night, just as it was for Detroit. Jonathan Isaac, a forward for Orlando, is the only player who is still hesitant about playing because of a sprained left knee.

Nevertheless, Cunningham's lung collapsed in March, so all he could do was rest. Cunningham had to strive to recover his legs in the final weeks of the regular season in order to be ready for the playoffs after the injury led him to miss eleven games toward the end of the season. On the road in Detroit, the Orlando Magic led wire to wire despite his heroics.

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Due to the injury, Cunningham missed 11 games and required a late-season ramp-up in an attempt to return to peak form in time for the postseason. J.B. Bickerstaff, the head coach, emphasized the need for better ball movement.

“It’s something we just need to pay attention to. I think they were spot on,” he said. “There were times in the games where we got stagnant. I feel like that happened to us because we got down early. Then it felt like there was so much weight, and so much pressure on each possession. Then, we got to a point where we were just trying to do it all and help hit a home run every time. So, again, I thought there were moments where we found what we needed to do and we just need to replicate that more often.”

Just weeks before the playoffs, Cade Cunningham recovered from a severe lung ailment, demonstrating both his tenacity and Detroit's cautious postseason management. He needed some time to find his rhythm after missing 11 games, but he soon re-established himself with a commanding 39-point effort in Game 1. The Pistons are now in a good position thanks to a solid regular-season momentum, a healthy squad, and Cunningham's return to form.