The Detroit Pistons host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night as they seek to strengthen their grip on the East's No.1 seed.
The Hawks, fresh off dropping 146 points on the Memphis Grizzlies in Monday's action, are trying to finish inside the East's top six and avoid the Play-In Tournament. Atlanta (40-32) has won 13 of the past 14 games, while Detroit (52-19) has a 7-1 record over the past eight.
The Pistons ended the Los Angeles Lakers' nine-game winning streak with a 113-110 win on Monday night.
However, this matchup of red-hot teams will take place without one of the game's biggest stars. Pistons guard Cade Cunningham will not play in this nationally-televised contest, which tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET from Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit.
Why isn't Cade Cunningham playing tonight?
Cunningham on Wednesday will miss his fourth successive game as he continues to recover from a collapsed left lung.
The pneumothorax that Cunningham sustained in a win over the Washington Wizards on March 17 is expected to keep him out at least until the start of April. The Pistons indicated that Cunningham would miss at least eight games until he could be re-evaluated, meaning the two-time All-Star still has four games or more before he can be cleared to return.
The @DetroitPistons today announced the following medical update on guard Cade Cunningham: pic.twitter.com/BNUh9hlgT7
— Pistons PR (@Pistons_PR) March 19, 2026
The Pistons have an 8-2 record this season when Cunningham doesn't play, and Detroit has won all three games he has missed during this absence. The team hopes Cunningham will return in time for the first round of the playoffs, but the Pistons have shown great resolve and toughness when their leader hasn't been able to play.
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