Pistons' Cade Cunningham Ruled Out vs Wizards With Back Spasms

Cade Cunningham was ruled out for the rest of Tuesday’s game against Washington with back spasms after five minutes of play. He finished with six points in a brief stint, but had been durable this season, appearing in 60 of 67 games and averaging 24.9 points and 10.1 assists. With Detroit holding a 3.5 game lead in the East, his availability matters as Caris LeVert and Daniss Jenkins are set to absorb extra minutes. Merlin sees a common late season wobble rather than a crisis. Back spasms often respond to rest and treatment, and Detroit will likely protect its All Star while managing minutes to preserve the top seed. If the issue lingers, the Pistons’ margin for error shrinks and matchups will get tougher.