Cade Cunningham Returns Tonight After Missing 11 Games With a Collapsed Lung

Cade Cunningham is back. The Pistons confirmed their All-Star point guard is expected to suit up tonight against Milwaukee after missing 11 games with a collapsed lung — one of the scariest injuries of the season.

Detroit went 8-3 without him, which tells you everything about how deep this team is. At 57-22, they've already clinched the #1 seed in the East. But Cade's return changes the ceiling. Before the injury, he was averaging 24.8 points and 9.2 assists and was a legitimate MVP candidate.

The question now is rust. Eleven games is a lot, especially with the playoffs starting April 18. Tonight against the Bucks is essentially a dress rehearsal — a chance to get his legs under him before the games that actually matter. Don't expect 35 minutes. Do expect the Pistons to ease him in carefully.