Is Jaden Ivey playing tonight? Latest injury update for Pistons vs. Pacers

The Detroit Pistons will play the first of two straight home games against the Indiana Pacers tonight at Little Caesar’s Arena.

The big question is who exactly is going to play, as the Pistons have been hit with a rash of injuries and illnesses that have them looking more like a G-League team than the one that started the season.

In fact, Detroit will be missing all five of their opening night starters when they take the court tonight, so fans had better be ready to see a healthy dose of the backups as the Pistons try to snap their 10-game losing streak.

While we expected the veteran players to magically develop injuries down the stretch of another tanking season, these injuries to the young players are far more concerning, as they are missing valuable developmental time, as well as the chance to start building some chemistry for next season.

That will be the case again tonight, as the Detroit Pistons take on the Indiana Pacers using mostly their bench.

Pistons injuries vs Pacers: Will Jaden Ivey play?

The list of Pistons out with injury or illness just keeps growing, as Jaden Ivey has been ruled out for tonight’s game vs. Indiana according to the official injury report.

He’s been put in health and safety protocols, so will likely miss both games against the Pacers. This is a shame, as Ivey has been playing well lately, getting some national attention in the process. He’s joined by teammates Alec Burks, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart, Hamidou Diallo and Cade Cunningham.

Marvin Bagley III is listed as probable with ankle soreness, not surprising given that he can’t seem to stay on the floor for more than a few games in a row. MBIII is only just back from a hand injury and already as a sore ankle, once again showing why his contract is one of the worst on the team.

If you are counting, that leaves zero starters from the opening night lineup, back when fans had hope of this season going another way. So who exactly is going to play tonight?

Pistons starting lineup vs. Pacers

This is going to be an interesting group no matter who Dwane Casey decides to start, as there will be at least three players featured in the rotation who weren’t even on the team a month ago.

Here’s what the starting five could look like tonight:

• Killian Hayes
• Rodney McGruder
• Isaiah Livers
• James Wiseman
• Jalen Duren

Will we get our first look at Wiseman and Duren starting together? It is possible. Casey could also decide to go with RJ Hampton over McGruder or use him at the wing with Livers pushed to the four and Duren or Wiseman coming off the bench.

I don’t envy Dwane Casey here, as he doesn’t have a lot of great options. The Detroit Pistons are starting to resemble an 80’s movie where a rag-tag group of misfits takes on the developers trying to destroy their community center.

Expect some laughs and hijinks, but I wouldn’t expect a win.