NBA WORLD REACTS TO PISTONS' CRUSHING CADE CUNNINGHAM NEWS

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The Detroit Pistons were crushed with bad news on the Cade Cunningham front.

Heading into their Wednesday, March 19, matchup against the Washington Wizards, the Pistons found out the true diagnosis for Cunningham after initially listing him out due to a back contusion.

It turns out that Cunningham will be missing much more than just the Pistons-Wizards matchup on Thursday.

Cade Cunningham Lands Unfortunate Injury Diagnosis

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 09: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 09, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

via Shams Charania, ESPN: Just in: Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and is expected to miss an extended period of time, sources tell ESPN.

So far, the Pistons don’t have any updates on an actual timeline.

But with the initial news hit, it surely worries NBA fans–specifically those who root for the Pistons–as Cunningham’s MVP-caliber seasons hit a massive obstacle.

NBA World Reacts to Pistons’ Crushing Cade Cunningham News

DALLAS, TEXAS – DECEMBER 18: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the second half of a game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on December 18, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Gunnar Word/Getty Images)

Shams Charania via NBA Courtside:

Shams on Cade Cunningham collapsed lung:

“He’s expected to miss an extended period of time. The Pistons are not quite sure how long it will be. Could be weeks. There is optimism he could be back for the playoffs”

Seanhalfcourt on X: ……. Oh no

Brandon Dent, Woodward Sports: Heartbreaking news #Pistons Cade Cunningham will miss an EXTENDED amount of time due to a collapsed lung

Bovada on X: 😱 wishing Cade a full speedy recovery 🙏

Big_business_ on X: Wow man, speedy recovery Cade

Jay Knicky on X: Omg…get well soon Cade. That’s mad scary!

Cunningham suffered his injury after seeing the court for just five minutes in Washington DC on March 17.

He left the game with six points, two rebounds, and one steal. Despite the early exit from the All-Star guard, the Pistons took care of business with a 130-117 victory.

After the game, the Pistons were happy to see their team was able to step up in the absence of Cunningham, but the follow-up update is surely going to sting.

Omari Sankofa, Detroit Free Press: Oh man. Rough news for Cade and the team

Big Sarge Sportz on X: Tough break…Prayers for Cade…

Sleeper Hoops on X: Brutal blow to the Pistons man. Rest up Cade ❤️

Brady_Fred on X: Beyond his long-term health, Cade will miss out on all the awards now. Four games short. Sucks.

Where Do The Pistons Go From Here?

The next-man-up mentality is strong in Detroit.

But there’s no sugarcoating the fact that this is a major blow for a team that’s been thriving all season long.

Cunningham led the Pistons to a 49-19 record this season. They hold a 3.5-game lead over the Boston Celtics as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Pistons will more than likely get a top-six spot in the NBA Playoffs, but the aftereffects of the Cunningham setback could put the top seed in danger.

Detroit will return to the court on Thursday night for another round with the Wizards. They’ll close out the back-to-back at home against the Golden State Warriors on Friday.

SMU LIED TO THE SELECTION COMMITTEE IN ORDER TO GET INTO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

MATT CASHORE/IMAGN

The SMU Mustangs, led by head coach Andy Enfield, were one of the last at-large teams to make it into the 2026 NCAA Tournament. And it turns out they only made the field of 68 due to a lie.

SMU went 20-13 over the course of the regular season and ACC Tournament play and snuck in to the play-in round as an 11-seed, where they squared off with the 31-1 Miami Redhawks on Wednesday night.

The Mustangs fell to the Redhawks, 89-79, ending their season. But they did so without one of their top players, senior guard B.J. Edwards, at their disposal. Edwards was the team’s third-leading scorer with 12.9 points per game and second-leading rebounder at 5.9 per game this season.

However, the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee believed he would be available for the game against Miami. In fact, that was one of the main reasons SMU made the tournament at all.

SMU Told The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee That B.J. Edwards Would Play

When discussing the final teams to make the bracket, NCAA Tournament Selection Committee Chair Keith Gill explained that Edwards’ availability was a key reason for the Mustangs sneaking into the field.

That’s despite the fact that he hasn’t played since Feb. 25 when he suffered an ankle injury in a loss to Cal.

“Six games ago, they lost one of their important players, Edwards, and they’ve lost five of six of those games (since),” Gill said. “He’s coming back. He’s the third-leading scorer, defensive player…”

He did not, in fact, come back.

Edwards did not play a single minute on Wednesday night against the Redhawks. Had he done so, perhaps the result would have been different.

“He just didn’t feel like he was quite game-ready.” SMU coach Andy Enfield said after the game, denying any intentional deception.

But it certainly appears that SMU misled the selection committee to some degree, and now teams like Oklahoma, Auburn, San Diego State, and Indiana are led to wonder “what if?” over their NCAA Tournament hopes.

- CLAY SAUERTIEG

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GALATASARAY READY TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AFTER HORROR NOA LANG INJURY VS. LIVERPOOL

Galatasaray will reportedly take legal action against UEFA after Dutch forward Noa Lang suffered a freak thumb injury from a collision with an advertising hoarding at Anfield

Noa Lang was forced off against Liverpool after suffering a serious injury to his thumb(Image: Getty Images)

Galatasaray reportedly intends to seek compensation from UEFA after Noa Lang suffered a freak injury from a collision with an advertising hoarding at Anfield during their Champions League defeat to Liverpool.

The Reds booked their place in the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday after beating Galatasaray 4-0 (4-1 on aggregate) at Anfield, setting up a rematch with Paris Saint-Germain, who knocked Liverpool out of the competition in the Round of 16 last year.

During the clash at Anfield, Lang suffered a gruesome injury for which he underwent surgery after he collided with an advertising board. The Dutch forward was in agony, holding his bloody thumb before being taken off the pitch on a stretcher. He was also seen being given oxygen as he left the pitch.

"In the second half of the same match, our player Noa Lang, who suffered an injury, sustained a serious cut to his right thumb, and it is planned for him to undergo surgery in Liverpool in the coming hours with the participation of our medical team," read a statement from the Turkish club, who now reportedly look set to take legal action against UEFA for the injury.

According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, Galatasaray's general secretary, Eray Yazgan, told HTSpor: "We made a complaint to UEFA representatives after the match. They also made their investigations. UEFA will evaluate the issue.

Noa Lang receives medical attention during Galatasaray's Champions League defeat to Liverpool(Image: (Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images))

"We are in talks with lawyers. We will file a lawsuit for compensation to UEFA. We will ask for our victimization in terms of salary to be eliminated."

Following the game, Liverpool and UEFA officials were spotted investigating the advertising hoarding where the incident occurred.

Liverpool officials inspect the fence against which Galatasaray's Dutch forward Noa Lang sustained an injury(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

While Lang was in serious discomfort following the injury, he later posted a picture on his Instagram account of himself on a hospital bed with two nurses while still in his Galatasaray kit, smiling.

He captioned the post, "s--- happens."

He also confirmed that he has had surgery on his injured hand, with the procedure going successfully. "Surgery went well! Thanks for all the messages," he added.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Ally McCoist, who was covering Liverpool and Galatasaray's game, admitted he could tell the 26-year-old had suffered a shocking injury simply by looking at the reaction of the photographer who was next to Lang when it happened.

"He said: "I could tell there was a significant problem because one of the girls behind there, I'm not sure if she's a photographer but you could see her face, the way she reacted."

- Oscar Maung-Haley

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FORMER AFCON-WINNING COACH TAKES AIM AT MOTSEPE OVER AFCON DECISION

 Veteran coach Claude Le Roy has criticised Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe following the decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.

Motsepe 'Attacked' Over 2025 AFCON Decision. Photo: Gallo Images

CAF confirmed that the 2025 AFCON title would be awarded to Morocco after Senegal were deemed to have forfeited the final by walking off the pitch in protest over a penalty awarded to the Atlas Lions.

The decision has sparked widespread backlash, and with the controversy ongoing, Le Roy has now voiced his strong opposition.⁸

According to WiW Sport, the Frenchman described the ruling as “incomprehensible” and was particularly critical of Motsepe.

"I couldn't imagine for a second that the CAF could go so far down this path of absurdity," Le Roy said.

"But when you see how the CAF is run today by Patrice Motsepe, who is essentially Gianni Infantino's lackey, you understand certain things better. From the start, some were determined to give the cup to Morocco. Yet, even though Morocco had a very good AFCON and deserved to go far in the competition, in the final, it was clearly Senegal who were the better team. No one could have imagined that we would hear such a decision two months later," he added.

The 78-year-old suggested the matter is far from resolved and believes further developments are likely, including the possibility of Senegal being reinstated as champions.

"We're in the middle of an election period, so we can imagine all sorts of things happening, only to ultimately decide that Morocco is the champion," Le Roy explained.

"I think this isn't over yet, and Senegal will eventually have its rights restored. But, once again, it's a disgrace to the image of the Confederation of African Football. I think that, initially, there will be an appeals committee, since this is a preliminary ruling," the former Ghana national football team coach continued.

"Then, depending on the outcome, the case could be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. But I fear that this decision, unfortunately for a continent with so much potential, will be a laughingstock for the entire football world," he concluded.

- Matthew Petersen

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TOTTENHAM ON VERGE OF FRESH SUCKER-PUNCH WITH CLUB SET TO FALLINTO £90M BLACK HOME

Tottenham have a hefty dificit to overturn if they are to make it to the next round of the Champions League - and failure to do so will result in significant losses

Tottenham could lose millions on Wednesday night(Image: Diego Souto/Getty Images)

Tottenham could miss out on in excess of £90million if they are dumped out of the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Spurs have a hill to climb against Atletico Madrid, with the Spaniards holding a 5-2 lead heading into the return leg of the knockout clash. Igor Tudor's side would need three goals to just push the game to extra-time, with many resigned to missing out on European glory.

However, this potential loss could signify more than a disappointing end to their Champions League campaign. Spurs have made millions from their participation in Europe this season, securing £16m just for qualifying for the league phase of the competition.

A single win secures around £1.8m but falling before the quarter-final stage will see Tudor's side miss out on a £10.8m bonus. There is also UEFA's new revenue model for the tournament, which rewards the marketing value and coefficient ranking of big clubs.

As one of the Premier League giants in Europe, Spurs usually bank up to £40m from this alone. This model tends to reward clubs based on continued participation, so Tottenham failing to qualify next season could spell trouble for profits.

Dropping out of the Champions League at the round of 16 will also see the club lose millions in revenue. Spurs collect between £4m and £6m per European matchday in tickets, hospitality and food and drink sales.

Losing that income before the quarter-finals removes up to £12m alone this season in a home leg in the rest of the knockout rounds, plus even more next season. The removal of between four to five guaranteed home games under the new Swiss model in the 2026/27 campaign removes over £30m in direct stadium income.

Brand endorsement deals are also at risk, as many of Tottenham's premium sponsorships contain performance clauses. A failure to qualify for the Champions League - which is almost guaranteed due to the club's low league standing - could trigger a drop in base payments from these sponsors.

An exit on Wednesday night, coupled with the failure to qualify for Europe next season, could spell a total of £92.8m in losses for the club. Tottenham recently reported a £129m pre-tax loss for 2025, the third-largest in Europe.

This double dose of losses - dropping out of the Champions League and missing Europe next year - will make it that much harder to stick to the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR).

Without European football to aim for in the summer, Spurs could be forced to sell some of their biggest assets in the team to cover any losses made.

- Abbie Meehan

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SENEGAL STRIPPED OF AFCON TITLE, MOROCCO DECLARED CHAMPIONS

Senegal say they will appeal after they were sensationally stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title on Tuesday and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) instead declared Morocco champions

Senegal stripped of AFCON title
AFP

Senegal say they will appeal after they were sensationally stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title on Tuesday and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) instead declared Morocco champions, two months after their chaotic final. Several Senegalese players controversially walked off the pitch in Rabat during the final on January 18 in protest when the hosts were awarded a penalty late in second-half stoppage time. After Senegal's players eventually returned having been coaxed back onto the pitch by captain Sadio Mane, Morocco missed the penalty and Pape Gueye went on to score the goal in extra time that gave his team a 1-0 victory.

CAF said that having studied Morocco's appeal, "the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the match" and the result was "officially recorded as 3-0" in favour of Morocco.

The CAF Appeals Committee justified its decision by applying Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON Regulations, which state that if a team "refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee, it shall be considered (loser) and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition".

The articles add that the team contravening the regulations "will lose its match by 3-0".

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said in a statement its appeal "was never intended to contest the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition regulations".

"The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, to the clarity of the competitive framework, and to the stability of African competitions," the statement added.

Senegal's football authorities said they will appeal "as soon as possible" to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute," it said in a statement.

Chaotic scenes

Minutes before the end of the match, some Senegalese supporters attempted a pitch invasion, while Senegal's players halted the game for nearly 20 minutes to protest the late penalty awarded to Morocco.

The controversial spot-kick was awarded by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala right at the end of the allotted eight added minutes in normal time following a VAR check for a challenge on Brahim Diaz by El Hadji Malick Diouf.

The game was goalless at the time and Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with the spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time.

But Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted 'Panenka' chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.

The game at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium then went to extra time, and Gueye's brilliant 94th-minute strike won it for Senegal. 

Several of the team's players posted on social media after the announcement that they had been stripped of the title.

Defender Moussa Niakhate, who plays for French club Lyon, posted a picture of himself lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy with a message that said "they're mad", in an apparent reference to CAF.

In the immediate aftermath of the final, FIFA president Gianni Infantino had condemned "some Senegal players" for the "unacceptable scenes".

"It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner, and equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport, it is simply not right," Infantino, who attended the match, said.

In late January, CAF imposed a series of disciplinary sanctions, including fines amounting to several hundred thousand euros, on the federations of both countries for unsportsmanlike conduct and violations of fair play principles.

The appeal trial of 18 Senegalese supporters, imprisoned since the final and sentenced to prison terms ranging from three months to one year for "hooliganism," which was scheduled to take place on Monday, has been postponed until March 30.

- Agence-France Presse

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SHIMANO TO PAY $11.5M PENALTY FOR FAILING TO REPORT DEFECT FOLLOWING CRANKSET RECALL

 Company 'failed to immediately report' the hazardous defect, with failures dating back 10 years prior to the recall being announced

Shimano Ultegra R8100 groupset detail of drive side crank arm (Image credit: Josh Ross)

Shimano has agreed to pay an $11.5 million civil penalty for failing to immediately report that its Hollowtech II cranksets contained a potentially hazardous defect.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has this week announced that Shimano will pay the penalty to settle a charge that it "knowingly failed to immediately report to CPSC, as required by law", that its cranksets "contained a defect which could create a substantial product hazard or created an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death to consumers."

The charge relates to the brand's bonded Hollowtech II cranksets, including Ultegra models with part numbers FC6800 and FC-R8000, and Dura-Ace models with part numbers FC-9000 and FC-R9100, as well as the power meter-equipped FC-R9100P model.

Those cranksets were all subject to a recall, first announced in 2023, which affected over 2.8 million units worldwide.

However, according to the CPSC, Shimano had received "thousands of warranty claims" dating back as far as 2013, with "dozens of reports" of injuries including bone fractures, joint displacement and lacerations as a result of the cranksets' failures.

The CPSC is an independent body responsible for setting industry standards, issuing recalls, and regulating all consumer-facing products in the United States.

It supported Shimano during the initial recall of 760,000 cranksets in the USA, announcing jointly on September 21, 2023. That initial release cited 4,519 incidents of cranksets separating, but that number relates only to North America, and is expected to be significantly higher worldwide.

In addition to the $11.5m penalty, the agreement also requires Shimano to maintain internal controls and procedures that ensure future compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act. As part of this, Shimano will submit annual reports regarding its compliance program, internal controls and internal audits relating to policies, procedures, systems and training.

When contacted by Bicycling Retailer, a Shimano spokesperson said: “Shimano cannot comment beyond what has been included in the public settlement.”

Cyclingnews has also contacted Shimano for comment.

- Josh Croxton