Pistons’ Cunningham to miss extended period due to collapsed lung

The exact timeline for a return to play is still unknown. The Pistons said Cunningham would be re-evaluated at the two-week mark.

Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points and 9.9 assists for the Pistons, stellar numbers for a club that is on pace for its best season in nearly two decades. Only eight players in NBA history have finished a season averaging that many points and assists, and Cunningham would be the first to do so in a Detroit uniform.

The regular season ends in less than four weeks. The Pistons — who had listed Cunningham as out for Thursday’s game in Washington with a left back contusion and said Thursday that further testing revealed the lung issue — won’t start their playoff run until April 18 or 19, when the East quarterfinals begin.

Cunningham got hurt in Tuesday’s win over Washington, leaving midway through the opening quarter with what the team called back spasms. He dove for a loose ball and collided into Wizards guard Tre Johnson with 7:44 left in the first, then seemed to be laboring until he checked out 1:04 later.

Detroit entered Thursday 49-19, 3 1/2 games ahead of Boston for the top spot in the East with 14 games remaining. Cunningham has played in 61 games this season, so an extended absence could also mean he doesn’t reach the 65-game threshold for eligibility for awards like the All-NBA team.