The independent arbitrator the league used to look at Dante Cunningham’s case determined that his punctured lung was a “condition,” a league source told The Athletic last week, rather than a basketball injury, leading to his winning the appeal. He is now healthy. And dealing. (No, I have not forgotten that Anthony Edwards, currently gimping it out for the Wolves against Denver on the knee that kept him from also hitting the 65-game minimum, had his appeal denied.) It’s one thing to dominate a January game against a tanking team — or just one that stinks.
To do it under the brightest lights and best competition, in the playoffs, brings a special aura to players who orchestrate such high-stakes games to their own syncopation. “For us, it uplifts us, makes us go with him,” forward Isaiah Stewart said. “For the other team, it’s just a problem for them that they have to figure out. They changed their coverages (on Cunningham) and stuff, which helped free us up and allowed us to make plays.”New York TimesThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “For us, it uplifts us, makes us go with him,” forward …