PODCAST:
April 17, 2026 ~ Justin Valentine, Nick Lundberg, and Bethann Long team up in studio to preview the Pistons’ postseason run as they await the winner of Magic vs. Hornets. Expect analysis, match‑up talk, and fan‑focused energy.
DETROIT, MICH. ~ After falling short of the 65-game minimum to be eligible for NBA awards, Detroit Pistons’ guard Cade Cunningham appealed the rule under the Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge and won Thursday afternoon, making him eligible to make an All-NBA team or win the NBA’s MVP award. Cunnigham played in 63 games during the regular season, missing 11 games in mid-March due to a collapsed lung. Cunningham averaged 23.9 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game in 2025-2026, helping Detroit earn the no. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2007.
The Pistons’ first playoff matchup will tip off Sunday, April 19 at Little Caesars Arena at 6:30 p.m. Detroit is looking for its first home postseason victory since 2008. The opponent will be decided Friday night as the Charlotte Hornets travel to Orlando to face the Magic in the final round of the Play-In Tournament in the East bracket.
