Cade Cunningham Nearing Return From Collapsed Lung as Pistons Lock Up #1 Seed

Cade Cunningham hasn't played since March 19, when a diving play resulted in a collapsed left lung — one of the scariest injuries in recent NBA memory. A knee to the back from Tre Johnson during a loose ball scramble caused a pneumothorax that's kept Detroit's All-Star sidelined for three weeks.

But there's good news. Cunningham has entered a return-to-play protocol and was upgraded to doubtful for Monday's game at Orlando. Doubtful sounds bad, but considering he had a collapsed lung, it's a massive step forward.

Here's the thing — the Pistons haven't needed him. Detroit clinched the #1 overall seed in the East during his absence. They've proven they can win without their best player. But getting Cunningham back healthy for the playoffs would make this team genuinely terrifying. The target is April 18 — Game 1 of the first round.