The Detroit Pistons have held the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for most of the 2025-26 campaign at 51-19. However, injuries are mounting as the regular season reaches its final stretch.
Detroit Pistons Injury Report Ahead of Matchup Against the Lakers
The Pistons host the Los Angeles Lakers at Little Caesars Arena on Monday, March 23, at 7 p.m. ET. Fans can tune in to the action on their local broadcasts and NBA League Pass.
Los Angeles comes into the contest red-hot, as it goes for its 10th straight win. The Lakers currently sit third in the Western Conference at 46-25.
The Pistons go for a four-game win streak, but they will have to do so shorthanded. They will be without three key pieces in tonight’s matchup: Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, and Marcus Sasser. The Pistons ruled out all three players at least 24 hours before the game.
Cunningham is expected to be out for an extended period. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the Pistons star was diagnosed with a collapsed lung on March 19.
Keith Langlois of the Pistons’ official site reported the team will re-evaluate the two-time All-Star in two weeks. His absence could extend well beyond the scheduled April 2 date.
Cunningham’s injury puts him in serious jeopardy of missing the 65-game mark to qualify for end-of-season awards. He averages 24.5 points, 9.9 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 61 games. Detroit has only 12 regular-season games left, and Cunningham’s situation has sparked debate about possibly changing the 65-game rule in the future.
Detroit announced on March 17 that Stewart suffered a grade 1 left calf strain. His re-evaluation is scheduled for March 24, so the team will likely provide an update on the 24-year-old before it faces the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
Stewart averages 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks for the campaign. He evolved into one of the league’s best shot blockers, taking home the December Defensive Player of the Month honors.
Sasser will miss his second straight game due to a right hip injury. He played 20.5 minutes over his last eight games, putting up 7.5 points, 2.9 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals.
How Daniss Jenkins and Paul Reed Will See Increased Roles
Cunningham and Stewart’s absences open up opportunities for Daniss Jenkins and Paul Reed. Jenkins likely starts at point guard, while Reed gets all the backup center minutes behind Jalen Duren.
Jenkins started the season on a two-way contract, but the Pistons converted him to a standard deal because of his impressive play. In nine games without Cunningham, the 24-year-old averages 14.9 points, 7.9 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. He totaled 22 points, eight assists, and seven boards against the Golden State Warriors in the last Detroit victory.
Reed produces robust stat lines, even in a low-minute bench role. In just 21.8 minutes over recent games, he put up 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks.
