Cunningham injury update: He will miss at least 4 games for Pistons

The Detroit Pistons, for the first time this season, are preparing to be without their franchise player for some time.

But the silver line is that, unlike last season, Cade Cunningham isn’t expected to be gone for long. The team announced Tuesday an MRI confirmed a left knee strain for the 22-year-old, who exited Sunday’s road loss against the Denver Nuggets midway through the first half. Cunningham will be reevaluated in 7-10 days, positioning him to return as soon as next Wednesday when the Pistons host the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Pistons will be without the 6-foot-6 guard for at least the next four games, including their three-game homestand beginning Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs (Wednesday) and Houston Rockets (Friday) this week and next Monday’s Martin Luther King Day road matinee against the Washington Wizards. He was ruled out Monday evening for the Kings game.

Cunningham is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 22.8 points, 7.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds on 44.9% overall shooting and 33.5% shooting from 3. He was in the midst of a hot streak before Sunday’s injury, averaging 28.7 points, 8.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 53.2% overall and 37.3% from 3 over his past 10 games.

His absence should open larger roles for Jaden Ivey and Killian Hayes, who could be promoted back into the starting lineup. Hayes has been coming off the bench since returning from a four-game absence due to illness on Dec. 28. 2023 first-round pick Marcus Sasser should also see more playing time.

Cunningham, 22 and in his third season, missed most of last season, as a stress fracture in his left shin that required surgery limited him to 12 games.

At 3-33 overall, the Pistons have the NBA’s worst record and have lost four consecutive games, all on the road, since snapping an NBA record-tying 28-game losing streak against the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 30.