After Tuesday night time’s defeat within the NBA Cup in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Detroit Pistons are again on the court docket Wednesday for a street matchup in opposition to the Boston Celtics. Sadly, they are going to be with out a key defensive participant, Ausar Thompson.
Lately, Thompson returned to motion, lacking a lot of the beginning of the 2024-25 NBA season. As Thompson was not cleared to play at first of coaching camp, it was revealed that his taking part in standing was within the fingers of the NBA. The Pistons needed to wait for his or her former first-round decide to obtain clearance from the league earlier than they may use him in practices or video games.
Just a few weeks in the past, the NBA cleared Thompson to return to observe. On November 25, Thompson made his debut for the 2024–25 season in opposition to the Toronto Raptors. He got here off the bench for 16 minutes.
Ausar Thompson (damage administration) was out Wednesday.
– Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) December 4, 2024
Since then, Thompson has appeared in each Pistons recreation. During the last 4 video games, Thompson has performed a mean of quarter-hour and even made one begin. He made 48 p.c of his photographs, scoring six factors per recreation.
On Wednesday night, Thompson will make his first outing since his return. The Pistons listed the explanation for his absence as coping with a well being difficulty. Happily, Thompson isn’t going through a setback: the Pistons are taking it straightforward on the younger veteran after an extended restoration.
Thompson is not the one participant to overlook a while this season for the Pistons. Veteran guard Cade Cunningham was additionally on board just lately.
Through the November 21 recreation between the Pistons and the Charlotte Hornets, Cunningham suffered a pelvic damage. Throughout a 36-minute shift, Cunningham exited early and was dominated out for the rest of the sport, lacking the group’s additional time earlier than falling brief with a two-point loss.
The Pistons performed 4 of their subsequent 5 video games with out Cunningham on the court docket. He returned to motion for a 32-minute efficiency in opposition to the Indiana Pacers. Within the NBA Cup recreation, Cunningham scored 24 factors, 11 assists and 6 rebounds. He bought the next night time in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers.
In Tuesday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks, Cunningham produced 23 factors, six assists and 5 rebounds in 33 minutes of motion.
Whereas Cunningham was out in opposition to the Sixers on the second night time of a back-to-back final week, the Pistons plan to play him in opposition to the Celtics on the street Wednesday night time.
The Pistons and Celtics shall be notified at 7:30 p.m. ET.
