The Eastern Conference's best team is slated to get its best player back.

Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham is expected to return for Wednesday's contest against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks after missing 11 games because of a collapsed lung.

He is officially listed as questionable but is expected to play, according to Vincent Goodwill of ESPN.

Cunningham has been sidelined since sustaining the injury in a win over the Washington Wizards on March 17, when he collided with Tre Johnson while diving for a loose ball.

 

Cade Cunningham is expected to make his return this evening for the Detroit Pistons after missing time with an injured lung, sources tell ESPN

— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) April 8, 2026

At the time of his injury, Cunningham ranked 13th in the NBA in scoring (24.5 per game) and second in assists (9.9) while shooting 34.6 per cent on 3-pointers. The fifth-year guard is also averaging 5.6 assists and a career-best 1.48 steals.

Despite missing an MVP-calibre player, the Pistons (57-22) went 8-3 in his absence and clinched the East's top seed with Saturday's 116-93 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. They had already captured their first Central Division title since 2007-08.

Although he is enjoying a tremendous season, Cunningham, 24, won't be recognised for his achievements in terms of any awards come season's end.

Even if he plays in Detroit's final three games, he'll still fall one game shy of the NBA's 65-game threshold for eligibility for post-season awards.