Pistons star Cade Cunningham sidelined with collapsed lung - ESPN

Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and is expected to miss an extended period of time.

The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons announced Thursday that Cunningham has a left lung pneumothorax and will be reevaluated in two weeks, meaning he will miss at least eight games.

Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that the collapse of Cunningham's lung is considered mild.

There is some optimism that Cunningham will be back in time for the start of the playoffs, which begin on April 18, sources told Charania.

Cunningham, who is among the leaders in the NBA MVP race, left Tuesday's game against the Washington Wizards with what the Pistons initially described as back spasms.

The two-time All-Star guard appeared to suffer the injury when he dove for a loose ball and collided into Wizards guard Tre Johnson with 7:44 left in the first quarter. Cunningham appeared to be laboring until he checked out 1:04 later.

The Pistons (49-19), who play at Washington again Thursday, are 3½ games ahead of the surging Boston Celtics (46-23) atop the East standings.

Cunningham, 24, is averaging 24.5 points and 9.9 assists — the second most in the NBA — this season. He has played 61 games, which puts him just short of the 65-game threshold required to be eligible for the league's regular-season awards such as MVP, All-NBA teams and Defensive Player of the Year.