Alright, Pistons fans, it’s down to the wire. Game 5 of the first round is here, and the Detroit Pistons are on the brink of elimination. With the Knicks up 3-1 in the series, Detroit faces a do-or-die moment that could either end their season or ignite a comeback. But with injuries creeping in, the real question is: Can Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Isaiah Stewart play pivotal roles in keeping Detroit’s playoff hopes alive?
Let’s break it down by player, because every single one of them might be the difference between packing it in or extending this series.
Is Cade Cunningham Playing Tonight?
You know Cade Cunningham. The guy who’s been Detroit’s entire offense all season, the one putting up numbers that make the rest of the league nervous. Last game? 25 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds—that’s a playoff triple-double, people. And no, we’re not talking about some fluke stat line—this is the real deal. Dude’s been out here playing like he’s trying to put the city of Detroit on his back and carry it across the finish line.
And as far as we, and ESPN can tell, there’s no injury holding Cade back from this game. So, yeah, he’s playing tonight.
Cade Cunningham’s gonna need to bring the same energy he had in Game 4 when he dropped 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in the third quarter, leading a near comeback against the Knicks. He can’t afford to slow down now—he’s the engine for this team. If Detroit wants any chance of staying alive, they need Cade to be that dude who hits big shots and runs the offense like he’s been doing all season.
Even his coach knows the whole thing runs through him. “He has to carry us on the offensive end,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “That’s a heavy burden on him, but he has come through so many times.”
Cade’s ready to roll. If Detroit has any hope of staying in the series, it’s all on him. No pressure.
Is Jaden Ivey Playing Tonight?
Ah, Jaden Ivey, the rookie who’s got a future in this league, but right now, he’s on the sidelines with that pesky lower leg injury. The news? Not great. The Pistons’ social media team dropped an update saying Ivey’s status will be “updated in another two weeks,” and that’s basically code for “he’s not playing tonight”. So yeah, Ivey is out for Game 5.
Isaiah Stewart QUESTIONABLE Game 5 – r. knee inflammation – Pistons announce. Has not played since leaving Game 1 pic.twitter.com/hrwEtnxmxi
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 28, 2025
Ivey’s been a bright spot for Detroit this season, but his absence really leaves a void in the backcourt. The kid has the swag to run the offense and get buckets, but instead, Detroit’s been leaning on Malik Beasley to pick up the slack, and while Beasley dropped 13 points in Game 4, we know that’s a little bit like asking a guy to fill LeBron’s shoes but only giving him some flip-flops. It’s not the same.
Ivey’s watching from home, and it sucks. The Pistons have enough problems right now, and losing Ivey’s scoring ability and playmaking just adds to the list. Someone’s gotta step up, and right now, it’s Beasley—good luck with that, Detroit.
Is Isaiah Stewart Playing Tonight?
Now we get to the big man, Isaiah Stewart. Detroit’s defensive anchor and, let’s be honest, the guy who’s been underappreciated all season. We all know Stewart’s not out there dropping 30 a night, but the dude does the dirty work. He grabs boards, plays tough defense, and isn’t afraid to mix it up. Unfortunately, he’s dealing with a knee injury, and while his status is questionable, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
According to reports, Stewart’s knee is still bothering him, and honestly, it looks like he’s gonna be on the bench for Game 5. If he’s out, Detroit’s interior defense just took a serious hit. Jalen Duren is going to have to step up in a big way, and if he’s the guy locking down the paint all by himself, we’re in for a long night.
Stewart’s got the “questionable” tag on him, but with the way the Pistons have been listing injuries this season, he’s probably gonna be on the bench while everyone else scrambles to hold it together. Big loss for Detroit if he can’t go.
Depth Chart Breakdown: What Happens If The Pistons Are Shorthanded?
If Cade’s the only one on the court tonight and the rest of the squad is missing, Detroit’s gonna be running pretty thin. So here’s how the Pistons might line up if Ivey and Stewart sit out:
POSITION
STARTER
2nd UNIT
3rd UNIT
PG
Cade Cunningham
Dennis Schröder
Marcus Sasser
SG
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Malik Beasley
Marcus Sasser
SF
Ausar Thompson
Ronald Holland II
Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF
Tobias Harris
Simone Fontecchio
Lindy Waters III
C
Jalen Duren
Simone Fontecchio
Paul Reed
So, yeah, Game 5 is officially a do-or-die situation for the Pistons, and things aren’t looking great health-wise. Cade Cunningham’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders, but if Ivey and Stewart are sidelined, it’s going to be a grind for Detroit to pull this one out.
The Knicks have been making quick work of Detroit, and with guys like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns ballin’ out, the Pistons might need a little more than luck to extend this series. But hey, this is the NBA—anything can happen, right?
Detroit’s hope for a miracle depends on Cade and whoever else decides to step up. Time to see if they can play spoiler or if it’s back to the drawing board for the Pistons after another early playoff exit. Hold on tight, Pistons fans. It’s gonna be a wild one.
The post Pistons Injury Report: Will Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Isaiah Stewart Play in Do-or-Die Game 5 Against Knicks? appeared first on EssentiallySports.
