The Detroit Pistons are rolling into the second half of the 2025-26 season with a 32-11 record and a firm grip on the Eastern Conference standings. That’s a dramatic leap from where this team was just a season ago.
Now, they’re not just in the playoff picture - they’re firmly in the title conversation. And here’s the kicker: they’ve done it even while their best player, Cade Cunningham, hasn’t been at full strength.
Cunningham, who was an early MVP frontrunner and has already locked in a starting spot for the All-Star Game, has been battling through a nagging wrist injury this month. It’s clearly affecting his game, but the 24-year-old floor general is pushing through - and he’s listed as probable for Sunday’s afternoon matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
Now, let’s be real: the Pistons probably have enough firepower to handle the 12-34 Kings, who are struggling near the bottom of the Western Conference. But head coach J.B. Bickerstaff knows that if Detroit wants to keep building momentum and chemistry heading into the stretch run, having a healthy Cunningham on the floor is critical.
Even with the wrist issue, Cunningham’s season numbers are nothing short of elite. He’s putting up 25.3 points per game on 45.1% shooting from the field, with 9.7 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals to go with it. He’s not just stuffing the stat sheet - he’s been the engine behind Detroit’s resurgence, orchestrating the offense with poise and vision.
But January’s been rough. Over his last seven games, Cunningham’s shooting has dipped to 36.5% from the field and just 27.3% from deep.
He’s averaging 20.1 points during that stretch, and the wrist clearly isn’t helping. Cunningham’s never been known as a lights-out shooter, so when his mechanics are thrown off even slightly, it can really show.
That’s exactly what we’ve seen lately.
Still, Sunday’s game could be a prime bounce-back opportunity. The Kings are allowing opponents to shoot the second-highest field goal percentage in the league, and that makes this matchup a potential “get-right” game for Cunningham. If there’s a time and place for him to find his rhythm again, it’s at home in Little Caesars Arena against a struggling defense.
Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. ET, and all eyes will be on No. 2 - not just to see if he plays, but to see if he can start turning the corner as Detroit gears up for a deep postseason push.