Pistons' Cade Cunningham: Drops 25 points in return

Cunningham (calf) logged 25 points (9-24 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 5-7 FT), nine rebounds, four assists and one block across 28 minutes in Saturday's 109-103 loss to the Grizzlies.

Cunningham returned to the court after missing the previous six games due to a left calf contusion. Though the game was closely contested throughout, Cunningham played well below his season-long average of 35.1 minutes per game, so the Pistons seemed to be deliberately easing him back in. He also finished with five fewer assists than his season-long average, as Cunningham shared playmaking responsibilities out of the backcourt with Dennis Schroder, who remained in the starting five due to the absence of Tobias Harris (heel). Cunningham should see his minutes restriction loosen up a bit in the Pistons' next game Monday versus the Kings.