76ers vs. Pistons: A Look at Detroit’s Crowded Injury Report on Friday

Following a five-game homestand, the Philadelphia 76ers are on the road for a quick stop in Michigan on Friday night as they take on the Detroit Pistons.

The matchup marks the first set of tournament play for the Sixers, and they have quite the advantage, considering the Pistons are dealing with a handful of key injuries going into the game.

Several names on the Pistons’ injury report don’t come as a surprise. Three players present on it have yet to appear in a single game so far this season.

Monte Morris, who’s dealing with a quad strain, was ruled out at the beginning of the year with a timeline of at least three weeks. While there’s no guaranteed return date for Morris, he’s expected to be re-evaluated soon.

Isaiah Livers is another name that stands out, as he’s been dealing with a left ankle sprain. After appearing in a career-high 52 games for his sophomore effort, Livers’ third season debut has paused, as he was initially ruled out for six to eight weeks.

One of Detroit’s most notable players, Bojan Bogdanovic, continues to heal from a calf strain that he suffered around training camp. The last time Bogdanovic appeared on the court was early March of last season. His 2023-2024 debut remains on hold.

As for the players that Detroit had on board for some time this season, they’ll be without Alec Burks, Joe Harris, and Jaden Ivey. The 21-year-old Ivey has been a key contributor off the Pistons’ bench this season, averaging 12 points per game while shooting 41 percent from three.

The former Brooklyn Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris is dealing with a shoulder sprain that’s expected to keep him off the court for nearly two weeks after he appeared in seven matchups to begin the season. Lastly, the Pistons are expected to play without former Sixers guard Alec Burks, who suffered a forearm injury recently.

Burks started the year coming off the bench for the Pistons in their first four matchups, averaging 15 points per game in 25 minutes of action. For the previous five games, Burks has been sidelined, and the trend will continue on Friday against the Sixers.