Cade Cunningham Returns to Action
The Knicks are facing a significant challenge again this season.
Cade Cunningham, who had been sidelined for 11 games due to a collapsed left lung, made his comeback during the Pistons’ 137-111 win over the Bucks in Detroit on Wednesday night.
He played for 26 minutes, scoring 13 points, along with 10 assists and 5 rebounds.
“Everything was good,” Cunningham shared with reporters. “The training and other things I’ve been doing have made me feel much more comfortable, so it’s been great.”
This injury was quite unusual, and its impact could have been substantial for the Knicks. Had Cunningham remained out longer, it might have weakened the Pistons’ push for the No. 1 seed in the East and their performance in the playoffs.
Interestingly, Detroit managed to go 8-3 without him, keeping the Knicks at bay in the standings and securing that top seed. Cunningham will need to play a few games now to regain his rhythm for the postseason. If the Knicks end as the No. 3 seed, they’ll have two playoff rounds under their belts before potentially facing off against the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.
In their three encounters this season, the Pistons bested the Knicks each time, with Cunningham playing a key role. He averaged 29.8 points, 11.0 assists, and 5.3 rebounds during those games, shooting remarkably well at 51.6% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.
“It was unlike any injury I’ve had before,” Cunningham mentioned. “From the moment I got hit, it felt different, and as time passed, I realized just how much.”
The Knicks are on the verge of surpassing last season’s win total, needing just one victory in their last three regular-season games.
Coach Mike Brown admitted he was not fully aware of the Knicks’ performance last year.
“For my grandson, I didn’t know how many games the Knicks won last year,” Brown stated after practice on Wednesday. “You might have heard something, but I know they finished second or third, but the exact number of wins didn’t concern me. They secured the best playoff seed they could. More importantly, we aimed to establish our style of play as we head into the postseason, really focusing on what we’re accomplishing.”
As they prepare, the Celtics have several players, including Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, listed as questionable for their upcoming games due to various injuries. The Knicks, on the other hand, have only Tyler Kolek on their injury report, and his status is uncertain.
