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Pistons Star Gets Massive Injury Update Before Games vs Bucks

A Detroit star has gotten major health news prior to the first of two Milwaukee meetings.
Alex Kirschenbaum|
Nov 1, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons players, from left, center Jalen Duren, forward Tobias Harris, guard Jaden Ivey and guard Cade Cunningham react to their 30-point loss to the New York Knicks late in the fourth quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Nov 1, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons players, from left, center Jalen Duren, forward Tobias Harris, guard Jaden Ivey and guard Cade Cunningham react to their 30-point loss to the New York Knicks late in the fourth quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

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Milwaukee Bucks

The young Detroit Pistons could be getting healthier ahead of their first playoff berth in years.

After beating the New York Knicks on Thursday, 115-106, the Pistons improved to a 44-36 record on the season. They are still within shouting distance of the No. 5-seeded Milwaukee Bucks (46-34), who they'll be facing off against twice to close out the 2024-25 season.

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Although he won't be back in time for either tilt against Milwaukee — barring some medical miracle, anyway — long-injured Pistons shooting guard Jaden Ivey took a big step in his rehab recently.

According to Field Level Media/ESPN, Ivey was cleared for basketball activities on Thursday. The 23-year-old broke his left fibula on January 1. Per ESPN, Ivey will beginning the first step of his re-conditioning program. The Pistons intend to update his recovery timeline in two weeks.

The Pistons themselves released a press statement about the news.

So, should Detroit actually advance past its first round playoff adversary (who will be either the New York Knicks or Indiana Pacers) in an upset, it's possible that the team could get some positive news about Ivey's availability during a deep spring playoff run.

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Still, it seems fairly unlikely that Ivey will be in NBA playing shape in time for the postseason.

The playoffs proper tip off on April 19. Next week, the league will be in the midst of the play-in tournament.

The 6-foot-4 Purdue product appeared in just 30 regular season contests for Detroit this season, averaging a career-most 17.6 points on .460/.409/.733 shooting splits in those contests. He also notched 4.1 boards, 4.0 assists and 0.9 steals a night.

Ivey had finally been starting to mesh alongside first-time All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham, forming a formidable, creation-heavy backcourt on a talented, athletic roster that has gelled under the tutelage of first-year head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

Milwaukee, which just won its own sixth straight contest on Thursday night, will play the Pistons at 6 p.m. CT Friday.

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For more news and notes on the Milwaukee Bucks, visit Milwaukee Bucks on SI.

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Alex Kirschenbaum
ALEX KIRSCHENBAUM

Currently also a scribe for Newsweek, Hoops Rumors, The Sporting News and "Gremlins" director Joe Dante's film site Trailers From Hell, Alex is an alum of Men's Journal, Grizzlies fan site Grizzly Bear Blues, and Bulls fan sites Blog-A-Bull and Pippen Ain't Easy, among others.

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