Cade Cunningham is progressing from his collapsed lung

For the first time since suffering a collapsed lung on March 17, Cade Cunningham has been upgraded from "out" to "doubtful" on the Pistons' injury report. That's not a return — but it's the first real sign that one is coming.

Cunningham sustained a left lung pneumothorax after diving for a loose ball and colliding with Wizards guard Tre Johnson. He's missed nearly three weeks, and the Pistons — the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference — have managed to hold things together without their best player. But the playoffs are a different animal.

The timeline is tight. Cunningham needs to play in at least five more games to hit the 65-game threshold required for MVP, All-NBA, and Defensive Player of the Year eligibility. With only six regular-season games remaining, every missed game counts. The regular season ends April 12, and the playoffs begin April 18.

Isaiah Stewart is also progressing from a left calf strain. If Detroit gets both back healthy for the postseason, they're the team nobody wants to see in the East. If they don't, that 1 seed might not mean much.