Pistons clinch, Cade questions
Detroit beat Golden State 115-101 on March 21 to clinch a playoff spot — but the win sparked chatter about the Pistons’ heavy reliance on Cade Cunningham heading into the postseason (social recap, Mar 21) (x.com). The result locks Detroit in but raises strategic questions: can their supporting cast sustain playoff minutes without overloading Cunningham? (x.com).
The Pistons clinched a postseason berth with a 115-101 win over Golden State on March 20, 2026, becoming the first Eastern Conference team to lock a top-6 seed in the 2025–26 standings. (nba.com) Cade Cunningham was listed as inactive for the game (DNP — Injury/Illness), with Isaiah Stewart also inactive on Detroit’s bench. (nba.com) Daniss Jenkins started in Cunningham’s place and logged 38:25 with 22 points and 8 assists, while Jalen Duren produced 23 points in just 21:26. (nba.com) Detroit’s box score showed 29 team assists, 16 steals and a 52.3% field-goal rate in the win, numbers that underpinned the club’s depth performance without its primary playmaker. (nba.com) Cunningham entered the break as a 24.5-point, 9.9-assist-per-game player for the season — production that leaves a notable playmaking gap when he’s unavailable. (espn.com) The Pistons confirmed a medical issue for Cunningham in the days prior: reports indicate he left the March 17 game after five minutes with back spasms and was later diagnosed with a collapsed lung, developments that explain his DNP status and complicate postseason minute planning. (usatoday.com)
