Cade Cunningham is playing tonight.
The Detroit Pistons star has been upgraded from questionable to available on the official NBA injury report for November 18âs road game against the Atlanta Hawks after missing three straight contests with a left hip contusion.
Cade Cunningham Upgraded to Available for Pistons vs. Hawks
Detroit had been cautious with Cunningham since he went down with a hip contusion during his 46-point triple-double performance against the Washington Wizards on November 10. He then sat out three consecutive wins as the Pistons kept rolling without their floor general.
On Tuesday, the team finally got the green light it was waiting for. According to an updated NBA injury report, Cunningham has been cleared to return and is available to play against Atlanta.
Detroit heads into the matchup at 12-2, riding a 10-game winning streak and sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings. Atlanta is 9-5 and on a five-game winning streak of its own, setting up one of the hottest showdowns on Tuesdayâs NBA slate.
Cunningham has been the engine for Detroitâs surge when healthy. He leads the Pistons in scoring at 27.5 points per game, and also paces them in assists, underscoring how central he is to their offense.
Cade Cunningham Injury: What His Return Means for the Pistons
Getting Cunningham back changes everything for Detroitâs rotation. During his absence, guard Daniss Jenkins soaked up heavy usage and responded with a string of big scoring nights, helping keep the winning streak alive. With Cunningham returning, Jenkins can slide into more of a complementary role while still providing scoring punch off the ball.
Cunninghamâs presence should also help a shorthanded wing group. The Pistons still have several players on the injury report: Ausar Thompson is also available to play against the Hawks while Tobias Harris is listed as out. Jaden Ivey and Caris LeVert remain out.
On the other side, the Hawks will be without multiple key rotation pieces, including Kristaps Porzingis and Zaccharie Risacher, trimming some of Atlantaâs frontcourt depth against a Detroit team that leans heavily on Jalen Duren inside.
Even if the Pistons monitor Cunninghamâs minutes in his first game back, his ability to create off the dribble and run late-game offense gives Detroit a clear boost in a matchup that could have early-season playoff seeding implications.
Where to Watch Pistons vs. Hawks: Time, TV Info & Key Stats
- Matchup: Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks
- Date:Â November 18, 2025
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
- Records: Pistons 12-2 (10-game win streak); Hawks 9-5 (5-game win streak)
- How to watch: Available on NBA League Pass and local regional sports networks.
- Season leaders:
- Pistons â Cade Cunningham: 27.5 points per game
- Hawks â Jalen Johnson: 21.8 points per game
The Pistons and Hawks meet three times this season, with Tuesdayâs contest opening the series. The teams will see each other again in Detroit on December 1 and back in Atlanta on March 25.
For fans punching âis Cade Cunningham playing tonightâ into their search bars, the answer is finally clear: yes. The Pistonsâ All-Star guard is back in the lineup as Detroit puts its 10-game winning streak on the line in Atlanta.
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