The Detroit Pistons knew Cade Cunningham wouldn’t be available for tonight’s home contest against the Sacramento Kings. But now the Pistons officially know the extent of the 22-year-old’s injury.
In a press release earlier today, the team announced that Cunningham is dealing with a left knee strain and will be re-evaluated in about seven-to-10 days.
Cunningham suffered the injury in the Pistons’ Sunday game against Denver midway through the second quarter. However, Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press reported that there wasn’t an obvious play in which he was injured. There’s been speculation he might have tweaked the knee in the team’s previous game against Golden State.
With the disclosed time frame, it appears that Cunningham will miss at least four games. The earliest he is projected to return is on January 17, a home game versus Minnesota.
Cunningham is having a breakout campaign. While Cunningham has struggled in his first four games in January, he increased his production over the previous two months. For the season, he averages 22.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while compiling a shooting slash line of .449
With Cunningham sidelined, Killian Hayes and Marcus Sasser are slated to see an uptick in minutes. Hayes will likely move back into the starting lineup.
Detroit (3-33) enters tonight’s contest on a four-game losing streak. The Pistons have just one game in their last 32 outings.
NBA Rumors: Cade Cunningham Update, Wizards Sign Veteran Free Agent Guard, & 76ers News
Washington Wizards Make Roster Move
After releasing Ryan Rollins yesterday evening, the Washington Wizards didn’t take long to fill their open roster. As the team announced earlier today, they have inked free agent wing Hamidou Diallo to a 10-day contract, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The Washington Wizards are signing five-year NBA veteran Hamidou Diallo to a 10-day contract, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Diallo spent five seasons with OKC and Detroit. The guard has averaged 18.6 points for Wizards' Capital City Go-Go G League team this season. pic.twitter.com/6jyrGtNTey
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 9, 2024
The athletic 6-5 guard has five years of NBA experience, which includes appearing in 56 games for the Pistons last season. He is an athletic player, an above-average rebounder for his position, and an active defender. However, Diallo is not much of a threat from beyond the arc, connecting on just 27.4% of his 1.1 career 3-pointers.
Prior to agreeing to terms with Washington, Diallo was with the G-League City Capital Go-Go as an affiliate player. He averaged 18.8 points on 52.1% shooting from the field, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 20 appearances.
Rollins, who was a second-round pick of the Golden State Warriors a year ago, appeared in 10 games for the Wizards this season, although his last game was Dec. 27. The 21-year-old guard averaged 4.1 points with a shooting slash line of .520/.667/.765 for the Wizards. A 2022 second-round draft pick of the Golden State Warriors, Rollins played in 12 games last season.
Joel Embiid May Not Play For Second Game
Joel Embiid (left knee swelling) is in real danger of missing his second consecutive game when the Philadelphia 76ers head to Atlanta tomorrow night. According to Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports, Embiid didn’t practice with the team either Monday or today.
Sixers injury updates:
– Joel Embiid did NOT participate.
– Tobias Harris, Furkan Korkmaz and De'Anthony Melton did.Despite Embiid not practicing today, Nick Nurse said they're hoping Embiid may be able to play Wednesday in Atlanta. He has not been ruled out.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) January 8, 2024
On a positive note, Bodner said head coach Nick Nurse is confident that Tobias Harris (left ankle soreness) and De’Anthony Melton (back soreness) will be available on Wednesday as the players practiced both days. Harris sat out on Saturday, while Melton has missed Philadelphia’s past three games.
If Emiid can’t go, it will be the ninth game he has missed this season. Paul Reed will likely get the call to step in with the first team once again.
While Reed only averages 15.6 minutes on the season, as Embiid’s primary backup, his playing time and scoring output nearly doubles in the games Embiid has missed. In six starts, Reed averages 11.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 24.2 minutes with a shooting slash line of .583/.600/.571.
Philadelphia sits third in the Eastern Conference with a 23-12 record, although the 76ers have hit a rough patch, losing two straight and three of four. The 76ers have lost two straight and five of nine. The Sixers are 2-6 in games Embiid has sat out. Meanwhile, they are 20-3 when Embiid, Harris, and Melton are in the starting lineup together.