Pistons Notes: Cunningham, Duren, Jenkins, Injuries, Robinson
With Cade Cunningham likely to miss out on postseason awards, Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said this week that he’d like to see some alterations to the current rules.
Cunningham was diagnosed with a collapsed lung this week and won’t be reevaluated for two weeks. He needs to play in five more games to reach the 65-game minimum to be eligible for most postseason awards. He had been a candidate for Most Valuable Player, as well as a surefire pick for an All-NBA team.
“There are so many different things now that you have to take into consideration that you shouldn’t have to take into consideration,” Bickerstaff said. “The guys are good enough. They deserve certain things. They play a certain way. Guys shouldn’t have to feel like they have to play hurt or injured to make something like that happen.
“I don’t have an answer for you as to what the best thing is moving forward, but I do think if you have serious injuries and you’ve played a certain way throughout the season and you’ve played a certain amount of games, a certain amount of minutes, whatever it may be, you should still be able to qualify for those awards. Again, I get the intent behind it. I just think there has to be a better way.”
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- Detroit’s other All-Star, center Jalen Duren, had a team-high 23 points and six rebounds in Friday’s 115-101 victory over the Warriors. Duren, who is averaging 19.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest, has led the team in scoring during their three-game winning streak. “For me, I’m just proud of my group. Proud of where I’m at now,” said Duren, who will be a restricted free agent after the season. “This is something that I’ve always known I can be. I’ve always known I can be one of the better players in this league, and I’ve still got a lot of room to grow. I don’t feel like I’m anywhere near as good as I can be. There’s still a lot of things I can get better at, but I’m proud of everybody… From where we’ve started to now, I’m proud of everybody who has been a part of it.”
- Starting in place of Cunningham, Daniss Jenkins supplied 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds against Golden State. It’s the fourth time this season Jenkins has reached the 20-point mark. “It’s just a different challenge,” Jenkins said during a TV interview regarding the loss of Cunningham. “We get to test ourselves, how can each guy take their game to the next step to pick up for that missing piece in Cade. We know he’s a big piece – that’s our guy. So we’ve just all got to step up in different ways to pick up for his loss. That’s all we’re trying to do. It’s a challenge.” Jenkins was promoted from a two-way deal to a two-year contract last month.
- Along with Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart (left calf strain), they played the second game of a back-to-back without guards Marcus Sasser (right hip soreness) and Kevin Huerter (right shoulder contusion).
- In case you missed it, the Pistons clinched a playoff spot with their victory on Friday. Detroit was knocked out during the first round by the Knicks last season and Bickerstaff believes that experience in the postseason will pay off this spring. “I do still believe that you have to have experience,” Bickerstaff said, per Jeff Zillgitt of NBA.com. “But that experience that we had last year versus the Knicks is enough. That experience gave our guys an opportunity to understand exactly what playoff basketball looks like and how to win in the playoffs. Our guys were able to go on the road and win two playoff games in the Garden, with all the allure that comes along with that and the pressures of the moment. That says our guys have what it takes to do it and then do it again. That’s the thing that gives me such belief that we’re capable of doing that.”
- Duncan Robinson wasn’t on the roster when the Pistons won a league-low 14 games two seasons ago. He sees the franchise’s dramatic turnaround as part of a culture shift, he told Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. “Having an identity is a big piece,” Robinson said. “We know who we are, and we know what’s required night to night in order to win games. Having guys you can really rely on on a night-to-night basis. A guy like Cade, that’s your leader. (Duren) has obviously flourished into that role as well. So it’s fun, man.”
Sixers Center Andre Drummond Fined $25K
Sixers center Andre Drummond has been fined $25K for making an objectionable gesture on the playing court, the NBA announced on Saturday (Twitter link).
The incident occurred with eight seconds remaining in the third quarter of Philadelphia’s 139-118 win over the Kings on Thursday. After knocking down a corner three-pointer, Drummond briefly mimed shooting at the Kings’ bench (video link via NBA.com).
Drummond had one of his best games of the season against Sacramento, posting 13 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 24 minutes. The big man’s playing time has increased in recent games due to frontcourt injuries in Philadelphia.
The 32-year-old is averaging 6.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in 2o.0 minutes per game over the course of 52 appearances (24 starts) this season. He’s headed to unrestricted free agency this summer after his two-year, $10MM contract expires.
Wizards’ Trae Young Dealing With Quad, Back Injuries
It appears unlikely that Trae Young will return to the court this season.
The Wizards announced on Saturday that Young reinjured his right quadriceps, sustaining a contusion during the third quarter of their game against Golden State on Monday. Related imaging, due to ongoing back pain, confirmed lower back irritation, Josh Robbins of The Athletic relays (Twitter link).
Both injuries are being treated conservatively and will not require surgery at this time, the Wizards added.
It’s essentially been a lost season for the former All-Star. He only appeared in 10 games with the Hawks this season before the blockbuster trade with Washington in early January.
Young was a four-time All-Star with the Hawks, including last season when he was the NBA’s assists leader with 11.6 per game. However, he made limited appearances prior to the trade due to a sprained MCL in late October and the right quad contusion.
He has only played five games with the Wizards over the past two-plus months, averaging 15.2 points and 6.2 assists in 20.8 minutes per game.
Young holds a $49MM player option on his contract for next season. If Young were to sign an extension with the Wizards in the coming months, it would require him to turn down his option and replace it with a new deal starting in ’26/27. An agreement between the two sides could tack on a maximum of three years to the current season.
If Young picks up his option in June, he would be eligible during the offseason to sign an extension that begins in ’27/28 and adds up to four new seasons to his option year. If he were to turn down his option in favor of free agency, he could explore options outside of D.C., though the expectation at this time is that he’ll stick with the Wizards beyond this season.
Atlantic Notes: Vucevic, Celtics, Minott, Barrett
Celtics center Nikola Vucevic has to wait patiently for his fractured right ring finger to heal, but he’s hopeful he can return to action before the playoffs begin.
“The good thing is I can still do some stuff on the court,” he said, per Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. “That will help me for when I come back [to be in] shape, and hopefully I get a couple games before the playoffs, get back in rhythm with the guys that week between regular season and playoffs, everything going as smoothly as possible.”
Vucevic suffered the injury on March 6 and was formally ruled out for at least three-to-four weeks.
“So far I haven’t had much pain or anything; everything has been going well,” he said. “The swelling is coming down and been working the range of motion. So hopefully the X-ray is clean at three weeks and I can start doing some stuff and just getting back to being comfortable and building strength in the hand.”
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Celtics are likely to stay under the first tax apron once again next season, Brian Robb of MassLive.com opines. Robb points out that they currently have approximately $185MM committed in salary for 2026/27, $9MM of which is non-guaranteed, while the first apron projects to be $210.3MM. Boston may also be able to operate below the $201.7MM tax line, resetting its repeater clock. It shouldn’t be difficult to shed salary, if necessary, to achieve that goal, Robb adds, noting that the emergence of young talent on team-friendly deals across the roster will be very helpful on that front.
- The Nets dropped a 93-92 heart-breaker to the Knicks, their 14th straight loss to their crosstown rival. Josh Minott was highly agitated by the loss after scoring a career-high 22 points, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “I wanted that s–t so (bleeping) bad,” he said. “Ever since we’ve been here, it’s like every game is an away game. [Friday] was just the night to really just stick it to everybody, man. As an organization, as a team, to show people that we got s–t here, yo. Man, just a sea of blue, a sea of orange. Every game we play, it’s a sea of the other team.”
- The Raptors left their 121-115 loss to the Nuggets on Friday still feeling good about themselves. Heading into their game in Phoenix on Sunday, they hold the fifth spot in the East. “The more we get healthy, the more we play together, the better it’s going to be for us,” RJ Barrett said, per Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. “I think we’re showing that on a nightly basis. But there are times and moments that we can play better as a team.”
Pistons’ Cade Cunningham Exits Early Due To Back Spasms
Pistons All-Star guard and Most Valuable Player candidate Cade Cunningham departed his team’s game against the Wizards on Tuesday during the first quarter due to back spasms, according to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press.
He asked to sub out with 6:40 remaining in the quarter. Moments earlier, Cunningham collided with Wizards rookie Tre Johnson when the two were attempting to corral a loose ball, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic.
Afterward, coach J.B. Bickerstaff did not provide an update on Cunningham’s condition or availability for upcoming games. Detroit defeated the lottery-bound Wizards 130-117 behind a career-high 36 points from its other All-Star, Jalen Duren.
Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons. He needs to play in at least five more games to meet the NBA’s 65-game rule regarding eligibility for major awards. Detroit has 14 regular season games remaining.
The Pistons play the Wizards in Washington, D.C. once again on Thursday before beginning a four-game home stand against Golden State on Friday. If Cunningham needs to miss some time, they will have to rely on Marcus Sasser and Daniss Jenkins to run the point. The duo combined for 24 points and 11 assists on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, we’ve dealt with a lot this season and had to call on different guys throughout the year,” Bickerstaff said, per Patterson. “Tonight was an opportunity to do that, give guys minutes and give guys opportunities to see what they could do.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Pistons announced that key reserve Isaiah Stewart would miss at least a week of action due to a calf strain.
“The most important thing is health and habits,” Bickerstaff said of approaching the postseason. “We’ve got to make sure, this month has been a lot of games for us, it will be a lot of games for us. So, making sure that we’re doing things right on the off days, how we’re recovering and all those things, to get guys opportunities to get on the floor, so that we can continue to work those habits. That’s priority number one for us.”
Warriors Notes: Porzingis, Melton, Kerr, Butler, Injury Report
A pair of impending free agents provided a glimpse of what an ideal Warriors lineup could look like if they’re re-signed, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area writes.
Kristaps Porzingis and De’Anthony Melton combined for 57 points against the Wizards on Monday in a 125-117 victory that snapped Golden State’s five-game losing streak.
Porzingis will be an unrestricted free agent after this season and Melton is expected to decline his $3.5MM option and hit the free agent market. If they remain with Golden State, the lineup next season could feature Porzingis at center, Draymond Green and Gui Santos at forward, with Stephen Curry and Melton in the backcourt, Poole notes. Jimmy Butler would slot in after he fully recovers from the torn ACL in his right knee.
“Working my way back into good shape,” Porzingis said. “Today I think was a pretty big step forward for me. I was having fun out there playing with the guys that were finding me. I probably should have ended with more [points]; I smoked three or four that I should have made, so there’s still a lot of room for improvement.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- The victory carried some historical significance for head coach Steve Kerr. He became the 28th coach in NBA history to reach 600 regular season wins, Nick Friedell of The Athletic notes. He also became the seventh coach to notch 600 victories with a single team. “I owe, I guess the honor, to incredible talent and a great organization,” Kerr said. “To work for the Warriors, to be part of this group, amazing group of people, that Joe Lacob and Peter Guber put together, just to be a part of this, I’m so blessed. Most organizations are not this strong and this aligned. I’m very, very lucky.”
- Butler, who reunited with the team for the first time since his ACL surgery on Feb. 9, provided an update on his knee rehab, indicating that he anticipates playing at some point next season. “I do want to come back,” Butler said, per Friedell. “I can’t say when. Obviously, as early as I can to help my guys win some games. But you’ll probably hear me say from time to time (in this process), whenever my body’s ready … whenever my body’s ready, I promise I’m trying to get back out there.”
- Al Horford, Stephen Curry, Seth Curry and Moses Moody remain out for the Warriors’ game against Boston on Wednesday, Celtics reporter Bobby Manning tweets. Quinten Post (foot) and LJ Cryer (hamstring) are listed as questionable.
Thunder Become First Team To Clinch Playoff Spot
The Thunder became the first team to clinch a playoff spot by virtue of their 113-108 victory over Orlando on Tuesday. It’s the 13th playoff spot earned by the franchise since 2010, the team tweets.
The Thunder, winners of nine straight games, improved their record to an NBA-best 54-15 with 13 games remaining. Oklahoma City is now assured of a top-six finish in the Western Conference and a berth in the first round of the playoffs. The Suns, who held the No. 7 spot in the conference entering Tuesday’s action, had 39 wins pending the result of their game against Minnesota.
The Thunder still has plenty of work to do to notch the top seed in the playoffs. The Spurs have 50 wins entering their game against Sacramento on Tuesday and remain in hot pursuit of the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
The defending champions set a blistering pace, winning 24 of their first 25 games. The Thunder then split their next 12 games before a four-game winning streak in late December and early January. They also reeled off five straight victories in mid-January, then went 10-8 over their next 18 games prior to their latest winning streak.
Oklahoma City’s depth has allowed it to overcome extended injury absences from two starters — Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Bulls Notes: Dillingham, Ivey, McClung, Essengue
Former Timberwolves lottery pick Rob Dillingham continues to settle in with his new team, the Bulls. In his last three games, Dillingham has averaged 13 points and five assists while shooting 6-of-15 (40%) from three-point range, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times notes.
Dillingham has received steady playing time after getting traded last month, unlike his experience with Minnesota.
“I’m just thankful for Coach (Billy Donovan), honestly,” Dillingham said. “Giving me that leash, it’s like I’m renewed. I’ve been able to play freely. My mental when I’ve been out on the court has been bad like for the last couple months, so I’m just thankful that I’m able to play, able to add confidence, able to help us win, and really, I’m just thankful to learn and keep growing.”
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- Another trade deadline acquisition, Jaden Ivey, will be a restricted free agent after the season if the Bulls issue a qualifying offer. Though he’s only played four games with Chicago due to left knee soreness, the organization continues to signal that it intends to retain him, Cowley reports. “The unfortunate part was that when he got here, you’re dealing with him coming into a completely new situation after the trade deadline and then trying to get acclimated,” Donovan said. “I mean, the intention when [made the trade] is this could be somebody that would be here for a while. How all this plays out with the contract in July and the free agency part of it, understanding he’s restricted, I don’t know. But our intention organizationally was, this is a guy we feel could be a very, very good player, and this guy’s got a pretty long runway of being somewhat youthful and young.” Ivey, currently sidelined, will be reevaluated next week.
- Mac McClung has been thriving in the NBA G League with the Windy City Bulls. Under a two-way contract with Chicago, the three-time dunk champion was named the G League’s Player of the Week (March 9-15) by averaging 38.3 points and 12.3 assists in three games, according to the league office (Twitter link). McClung was recognized as the G League’s Player of the Month for February.
- Rookie Noa Essengue was declared out for the season in early December due to a shoulder injury. However, he’s still working diligently on his comeback. Essengue was shooting and undergoing a full, non-contact workout after Bulls practice on Tuesday, K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network tweets.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Out At Least One Week Due To Knee Injury
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been diagnosed with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise and will be reevaluated in one week, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets.
Milwaukee ruled out Antetokounmpo approximately 90 minutes before its game against Cleveland on Tuesday. Coach Doc Rivers told reporters during his pregame press conference that Antetokounmpo underwent testing on the knee, Eric Nehm of The Athletic tweets.
“The good news was it was a really good image, so there was no damage,’ Rivers said. “Nothing. It was really just good news. But I don’t know the next part (regarding a timeline).”
The Bucks also ruled out Myles Turner for Tuesday’s game due to a calf injury.
Antetokoumpo suffered his injury on Sunday, late in the third quarter of a 134-123 victory over Indiana, when he came down awkwardly on a dunk following a spin move. The two-time MVP stayed in the game for a little over a minute before exiting the rest of the night.
After the game, Antetokounmpo didn’t anticipate undergoing imaging but obviously that thinking changed over the past two days. The veteran forward has only played in 36 of the Bucks’ games this season, having battled knee, groin, and repeated calf ailments. He’s averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per contest.
The Bucks are barely clinging to hopes of a play-in tournament berth. They’re currently 11th in the East at 28-39, five-and-a-half games behind 10th place Charlotte (34-34).
Antetokounmpo’s latest injury could extinguish all hopes of making the postseason. Following their home game on Tuesday, the Bucks embark on a four-game road swing that begins in Utah on Thursday.
Santi Aldama Undergoes Knee Procedure, Out For Remainder Of Season
The Grizzlies have ruled out big man Santi Aldama for the remainder of the season, the team announced (Twitter link).
Aldama underwent an arthroscopic procedure and received an orthobiologic injection on Tuesday to address discomfort in the trochlear compartment of his right knee. He is expected to make a full recovery prior to the start of next season.
The team revealed on Sunday that Aldama would undergo the procedure.
Aldama hasn’t played since February 4 due to ongoing knee pain. He averaged a career-high 14.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in 27.9 minutes per game in 43 appearances for Memphis this season after signing a three-year, $52.5MM contract in restricted free agency last summer. He shot 47.9% from the floor and 35.0% from beyond the three-point line, both above his career rates.
Earlier on Tuesday, the team announced that Scotty Pippen Jr. underwent toe surgery and would sit out the rest of the season.
The Grizzlies’ training room has been busy all season. Ty Jerome, Zach Edey, Brandon Clarke and Ja Morant have all missing significant chunks of action. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was ruled out for the remainder of ’25/26 last month after undergoing finger surgery.