Pistons Coach Addresses Rookie’s Setback Before Raptors Matchup

Lately, the Detroit Pistons have been playing without their first-round rookie, Ausar Thompson.

Once again on Wednesday night, Detroit ruled out Thompson ahead of their matchup against the Toronto Raptors at home. According to the injury report, the rookie is dealing with an asthma-related illness.

Prior to Wednesday’s outing, Pistons head coach Monty Williams addressed the state of Thompson’s absence, noting that an in-depth update is expected in due time.

"We're still working through some things,” Williams told reporters, according to the Detroit News’ Mike Curtis. “Ausar is somebody who's near and dear to my heart because he's Ausar."

Without an official update at this time, Thompson has been viewed as day-to-day since he left the Pistons’ last Saturday night matchup against the Dallas Mavericks early.

Through the first half of action against the Mavs, Thompson checked in for 11 minutes. He struggled on the offensive end of the floor, as he drained just one of his seven shots from the field, but he shined defensively, slowing down Mavs star Luka Doncic.

Unfortunately, Thompson didn’t get a chance to finish what he started last weekend. After being considered questionable to return for the second half, the Pistons’ rookie never returned. After the game, it was unclear just how severe Thompson’s setback was.

Going into Monday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, Thompson was described as questionable on the injury report. Hours before the tip, he was downgraded to out, missing his first set of action in 63 games this season.

Ahead of Wednesday’s game against Toronto, Thompson found himself in the same position. At first, he was questionable to participate, but the Pistons made an early call to rule him out. For the first time this season, Thompson missed back-to-back games.

Soon, the Pistons will confirm whether or not Thompson’s absence will get extended beyond the two games he’s missed already.

The Pistons will return to action on Friday night to host the Miami Heat.