Daniss Jenkins locked in a standard NBA contract back on Feb. 8, and it seemed like a turning point. But the weeks that followed did not go as smoothly as expected. His play dipped, and doubts started creeping in about whether he could handle the jump.
Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards changed that narrative. Cade Cunningham went down with what looked like back spasms, and Jenkins delivered one of his best performances of the year.
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Detroit got a reminder of what the guard can do when his number gets called. The problem now is that Jenkins might have to keep doing it for a while.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Cunningham is expected to miss an extended period after suffering a collapsed lung, leaving Detroit to adjust quickly.
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Just in: Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and is expected to miss an extended period of time, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/JIHABIIOY5
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 19, 2026
Cunningham’s injury took a turn nobody saw coming. He left Tuesday’s game after just five minutes and six points, the result of a collision during a loose ball scramble in the first quarter.
At the time, it was labeled as back spasms, and Cunningham even tried to tough it out before the team shut him down. The diagnosis that came later hit harder than anyone anticipated.
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Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham looks on during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Cunningham has been the driving force behind Detroit’s resurgence this season, putting up 24.5 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game while running the offense and closing out tight games. Losing him creates a massive void in scoring, playmaking, and leadership at a point in the season where every game counts.
The timing could not be worse for the Pistons, who are already shorthanded. Isaiah Stewart remains out with a Grade 1 calf strain and will not be reevaluated for another week. Losing both Cunningham and Stewart at the same time forces head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to shuffle his rotation in a hurry.
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