Cade Cunningham ruled out for Pistons after two unexpected ailments

The Detroit Pistons are going to be without All-Star guard Cade Cunningham for the third time in the past six games on Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans. Health ticked up for the Pistons after Cunningham missed two games due to a wrist contusion two weeks ago. But now Cunningham is set to miss their first road matchup since Jan. 4 due to illness and a left hip contusion. Cunningham didn’t even pop up on the injury report until Wednesday afternoon and the designation was just an illness, at the time. Veteran wing Caris LeVert was also carrying an illness designation and he will be out for the game, as well. Forward Ron Holland was questionable for Monday’s game with an illness, but he still played. Isaiah Stewart missed a matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 10 due to an illness. Detroit (31-10) will now be a little shorthanded to face a struggling New Orleans team (10-35) with 13 losses in their last 15 games. The East-leading Pistons never prefer to be without their superstar guard, averaging 25.7 points and 9.8 assists per game, but they’ve fared just fine in the games he’s missed. Detroit is 4-1 in games where Cunningham doesn’t play. LeVert’s absence hurts more of the Pistons’ depth in terms of available primary ball handlers. While only averaging 7.9 points and 2.8 assists per game, Detroit often has LeVert taking control of the offense with the second unit. Being without Cunningham and LeVert should see more opportunities for Jaden Ivey, Daniss Jenkins and Marcus Sasser to run the offense against the Pelicans’ 28th-ranked defense in the NBA. A win Wednesday night would mark the fourth straight for Detroit, which would be their longest since early December.