Cade Cunningham has missed five consecutive Detroit Pistons games with left shin soreness, but it appears he has a more serious injury.
The Pistons suspect that a hairline stress fracture in his shin is the underlying cause for Cunningham’s shin soreness, league sources told the Free Press on Saturday, and the team is preparing to be without its budding point guard for an extended period of time. The Pistons initially set a five-game re-evaluation timeline for Cunningham’s return, which would’ve been Sunday against the Sacramento Kings.
It isn’t yet clear when Cunningham will return, as the Pistons are mulling surgery. Rest is also an option, but surgery could be unavoidable depending on how his shin responds. If the fracture heals on its own, Cunningham would miss “indefinite” time, a source said. The team wouldn’t know exactly how long he would be out, and it would depend on how fast his body recovers.
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Surgery would provide a clearer timeline on his recovery and could ultimately be the best option, but would also lead to him missing significant action. Cunningham will make a decision over the next couple of days.
It’s a tough setback for a Pistons team that has been battered by injuries early. Cunningham is averaging 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and six assists this season. He made Detroit’s road trip to Los Angeles this week and had his shin examined by doctors, after previously being seen by specialists in Detroit.
The Pistons have lost six straight and own the NBA’s worst record at 3-14. They have four games left on their six-game western road trip. Killian Hayes has started the past four games at point guard and has played well after a poor start to the season.
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Marc Stein was first to report the Cunningham injury update.