Pistons injuries make NBA's rescinded gift sting even more

Marcus Sasser joined Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart on the Pistons’ injury report, so Detroit will have to dig deep in tonight’s marquee matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The Pistons have been able to survive without Cunningham and Stewart, but they are no longer playing the Wizards or shorthanded Warriors, as the Lakers are one of the hottest teams in the league. Sasser will be out tonight but the good news is that Kevin Huerter is not on the injury report after missing the last game.

LA has won nine straight games to put themselves 2.5 games clear of the 4th-seed Rockets, and their superstar Luka Doncic has been on a heater in that time, averaging 40 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. 

He’s put up at least 30 points in all nine games, including 44, 51 and 60 point outings, so Luka is playing his best ball of the season. Now is probably a good time to remember that the Dallas Mavericks, one year removed from a Finals appearance, traded Luka for Anthony Davis, who is currently injured and on the Wizards. 

The worst trade of all time looks even worse, which I didn’t think would be possible. 

It looked as though the Pistons had gotten a much-needed gift from the league prior to this matchup, but the NBA had other ideas. 

Detroit Pistons injuries and Luka Doncic’s suspension 

In his last game against the Magic, Doncic picked up what would have been his 16th technical foul, which would have cost him a one-game suspension against the Pistons. 

But the league rescinded the technical for some reason, a lovely gesture that seems reserved for superstars like Luka. I’m sure if that had been Isaiah Stewart, the league would have poured over that footage and evidence with the same fine-toothed comb to find any possible reason to absolve poor Beef Stew if someone said something mean to him. In case you didn’t realize, that was sarcasm, as very few appeals of technicals ever get taken seriously. 

It’s fine, as I don’t think there should be mandatory minimums in law or in the NBA, as every case is different. I am also ok with the league reviewing technicals, as they are often handed out for no real reason. It’s just that they so rarely do. 

Did Dillon Brooks get a full investigation of his last technical foul before getting suspended? No? Why not? 

Doncic is possibly the biggest crybaby and junk talker in the league, a guy who complains to the refs after nearly every play, so I am not sure why he deserved more benefit of the doubt than anyone else. 

The Pistons were going to be shorthanded tonight anyway but thought they might get the gift of Luka’s absence. That won’t be the case, so they have to do what they’ve done all season, which is gut it out and find a way to win anyway.