The Eastern Conference runs through Detroit, as the Pistons have locked up home-court advantage throughout the playoffs thanks to their 57 wins thus far. Several of those triumphs have come without superstar PG Cade Cunningham, who’s missed significant time due to injury.
Ahead of Monday’s 7:00 p.m. ET tip-off vs. the Orlando Magic, however, there’s a new update in Cunningham’s status that should be viewed as good news for both player and team alike.
With that in mind, let’s dive into the latest Cade Cunningham injury update and how it could impact PrizePicks player projections for Pistons vs. Magic on Monday.
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Cade Cunningham Injury Update vs. Magic Tonight
Cunningham was originally ruled out of Monday’s game as he continues to recover from a collapsed lung. Despite that, the Pistons eventually upgraded him to doubtful.
This can be viewed as a bit of a surprise, as the Pistons revealed last Thursday that Cunningham would definitively be out for “at least one more week” before being reevaluated. That isn’t stopping them from hinting that a potential return could be on the horizon with the 2026 NBA playoffs drawing near.
Cunningham, an All-Star this season and an MVP candidate before going down, hasn’t played since March 17. Detroit is an impressive 8-2 in the 10 games following his injury, and the former No. 1 overall NBA Draft selection is tracking to miss the NBA’s 65-game threshold to qualify for season awards.
In 61 contests, Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 9.9 assists. That’s while shooting 46.1% from the field, 34.6% from deep and 81.4% from the free throw line, a testament to his efficiency on significant volume.
C Isaiah Stewart (calf) was also upgraded from out to doubtful, but Omari Sanfoka II of the Detroit Free Press reports that it's possible neither he nor Cunningham is in Orlando.
Cade Cunningham Injury Impact: Which Pistons Players to Target?
A major reason why Detroit is holding steady without Cunningham is the excellent play of backup PG Daniss Jenkins. The former Iona and St. John’s man is in year No. 2 for the Pistons, averaging 9.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 3.8 APG on 41.5% shooting (38.4% from 3-point land).
In the 10 games since Cunningham went down, Jenkins has leveled up in a major way. On 35.9 minutes a night, his 19.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 7.7 APG have been critical. He’s also become a more effective scorer, making 44.8% of his shots overall and 43.8% of his trey-balls.
As expected, Jenkins stuffs the stat sheet when Cunningham isn’t in the lineup. Per databallr, in 663 minutes without him this year, the sophomore guard sees a 6.2% increase in usage rate and averages 1.7 more points and 2.8 more assists per 75 possessions.
If the Pistons are to take down a competitive Orlando squad jockeying for seeding position, Jenkins may have to put on the Superman cape again.
Daniss Jenkins vs. Magic Projections, Picks
Here are some top Daniss Jenkins projections vs. the Magic tonight, via PrizePicks.
- 18.5 Points
- 2.5 Rebounds (Goblin)
- 7.5 Assists
- 30.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- 37.5 Fantasy Score
- And More
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Make Pistons vs. Magic Picks on PrizePicks
Regardless of whether Cade Cunningham returns from his lung injury on Monday night, there are ample hoops projections for fans to consider before the slate tips off.
You can make your NBA picks on PrizePicks, earning real-money rewards if you’re right. Just pick at least two players and predict More or Less on their projected stats.
With PrizePicks Team Picks, make predictions on game winners, spreads, over/unders, and more — now available in 35 states!
Keep it locked in here with the Playbook for continued NBA news, picks, and analysis every day.
