Cade Cunningham injury update: He will return in 5-7 days for NBA-worst Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons announced Friday afternoon Cade Cunningham has been cleared to resume basketball activities from his left knee strain and is expected to return in 5-7 days.
Cunningham has missed the past five games since suffering the injury in the first half Jan. 7 in Denver, and will miss the next two games vs. Milwaukee on Saturday and Monday. He could return to competition Wednesday vs. Charlotte or Saturday vs. Washington.
Cunningham played in the Pistons' first 36 games this season before the injury, with the team going 3-33. They have since gone 1-4 in his absence, finishing the first half of the season 4-37 and on pace for eight wins, which would be the worst record in NBA history by one game. The Pistons already set the single-season record with 28 consecutive losses, despite Cunningham playing in every one.
The Pistons made a minor trade while Cunningham has been out, on Sunday dealing away Isaiah Livers and Marvin Bagley III and two second-round picks to Washington for Mike Muscala and Danilo Gallinari, the move opening up even more cap flexibility next summer.
READ MORE: Pistons benefitting from Mike Muscala's presence after just one game
Cunningham, 22, sat out most of last season after undergoing left shin surgery, playing in just 12 games.
He's averaging 22.8 points and 7.2 assists on 44.9% shooting overall, 33.5% from 3-point range and 87% on free throws.
Jaden Ivey has seen a large increase in his usage with Cunningham sidelined, taking between 17 and 22 shots each of the past five games, and scoring a season-high 32 points (13-for-22 shooting) in Wednesday's loss to Minnesota. He previously had taken at least 17 shots once all season.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cade Cunningham injury update: Detroit Pistons set return in 5-7 days
