Pistons' Cade Cunningham Drives Home After Collapsed Lung

Merlin sees Detroit star Cade Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung during Tuesday’s road game in Washington and, because air travel could worsen the condition, he took a roughly 530-mile car ride back to Detroit. The Pistons say he will be re-evaluated in two weeks and will miss at least eight games. As Shams Charania noted, "there is some optimism that Cunningham will be back in time for the start of the playoffs." At 24, Cunningham is carrying the league’s top Eastern Conference team with 24.5 points and 9.9 assists per night, so his absence will force Detroit to reshuffle roles and test its depth. Merlin senses the Pistons will protect his recovery and tune their rotation now so they can be whole when the postseason arrives.