DETROIT — For anyone who checked out a box score after the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Detroit Pistons 109-103 on Saturday, one number in particular may have been glaring on the Pistons’ side.
Cade Cunningham, who averages a career-best 35.2 minutes per game this season, logged just 28. But for good reason.
The 23-year-old guard was in his first game back since being sidelined for exactly two weeks due to a left calf contusion. While he came up short in the win column, Cunningham finished hovering around his season averages with 25 points, nine rebounds and four assists in his first game back in 14 days.
Despite playing fewer minutes than his season average, he returned to the floor Saturday looking to lead Detroit to a win on the second night of back-to-back games. Although it wasn’t the outcome the Pistons (43-35) wanted, they remain sixth in the Eastern Conference and a half game back on the Milwaukee Bucks (43-34).
Detroit will take on the Bucks for both teams’ final two games of the season, as the postseason intensity will likely begin early between the two.
Cunningham’s return came on a night that saw Tobias Harris miss his eighth game of the season as he deals with left heel soreness and Jalen Duren miss just his fourth due to a right peroneal contusion. With two starters out in Duren and Harris, more attention went to Cunningham, who shot 9-of-24 from the field and 2 of 6 from long range.
What was even more relevant than stats for Cunningham on Saturday, though, was the insight he gave into his life over his last couple of weeks. Cunningham offered clarity on his recovery process and what he had been experiencing.
“I got hit in my left calf and then it made my right calf tighten up a lot,” Cunningham said postgame. “So it’s just a lot going on. I got sick at the same time, so it was just trying to battle a lot of different things. (Our) training staff got me right, though. I feel great now. So, I feel good going into the playoffs. It was a good game for me to try to shake off the rust.”
His final three sentences are the most consequential for the Pistons.
Although there was a due process of knocking off a bit of rust from weeks away from NBA basketball, Cunningham eventually walked away from the loss feeling like himself. Which is paramount to Detroit, given it will go as far during the playoffs as Cunningham will be able to take it.
The Oklahoma State product spent time on the sideline bolstering his knowledge in an attempt to take the Pistons as far as they can go.
“Just seeing Dennis (Schröder) do what he was doing,” Cunningham said when asked what he was able to learn in his time away from the court. “Try to pick up a lot of his savvy stuff. How to get fouls, the ways he was setting up the floor. We have different play styles a little bit, so just seeing the way he was going about it and finding ways that I can help the team as much as I can.”
Asked Cade Cunningham if there were things he was able to learn while being sidelined:
“Just seeing Dennis do what he was doing. Try to pick up a lot of his savvy stuff. How to get fouls, the ways he was setting up the floor.” pic.twitter.com/tD2L33U5tZ
— Hunter Patterson (@HuntPatterson_) April 6, 2025
One of Schröder’s best assets since coming to Detroit is how he values the ball and possessions as a whole. Schröder has posted a 5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio dating back to the first time Cunningham missed time with his calf contusion. Cunningham is fourth in the league in assists per game (9.1) and second in turnovers (4.4).
If Schröder’s security with the ball can rub off on Cunningham during the playoffs, while also not limiting his creativity, the Pistons could be a different version of themselves.
Even with the excitement surrounding Detroit after Friday’s win to clinch its first top-six spot in the Eastern Conference since 2008, Cunningham remained consistent. All season long, he’s been vocal about combating complacency.
Saturday, especially given he’d just come off a loss, was no different.
“It feels good, now it’s just more focus knowing that we’ve got a lot coming ahead,” Cunningham continued. “Just trying to make sure we’re all ready for it mentally, physically, and put our best foot forward.”
So, how is Cunningham planning to herd his group into being as prepared as possible for the playoffs over these last four games?
“One, being healthy. But more than anything, just getting better and continuing to learn our system and each other more and more,” Cunningham said. “That way we can put our best foot forward during the playoffs.”
The next opportunity for Cunningham and the Pistons to continue fine-tuning their system comes Monday, when they complete their third game in four days. The Sacramento Kings will be in town before Detroit hosts the New York Knicks and Milwaukee.
Each of the next four games will become more precious as conference standings remain in flux. Factoring in Cunningham working himself back into a complete All-Star, playoff-caliber level only adds weight to these games. But for Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, he walked away pleased with the progress Cunningham made in his first game back from injury Saturday.
“That was the goal, around that number,” Bickerstaff said of Cunningham’s 28 minutes. “Obviously didn’t want to overexert him, (but wanted to) give him an opportunity to get his legs under him and try to catch his rhythm a little bit. I thought he did a good job of that.”
(Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)