Pistons injuries present danger and opportunity

The Detroit Pistons could be missing three starters tonight against the Brooklyn Nets, which makes them vulnerable to an upset, but also offers some opportunities. 

Ausar Thompson has been ruled out already with a sprained ankle. There still hasn’t been a full update on his status, so Pistons fans are hoping this is minor and not something that will keep him out for any significant amount of time. 

Jalen Duren is listed as probable with lower back spasms, so he’ll likely be a game time decision, and Cade Cunningham is listed as questionable, so we could see a radically different starting lineup if all three of these players are out. 

This obviously leaves them open to being upset by the tanking Nets, but also in the standings, as the Celtics are just four games behind them and just got Jayson Tatum back, so the Pistons certainly can’t coast through the home stretch and expect to hold onto the number one seed. 

Detroit finally ran into some bad injury luck, but it also offers opportunities that they have to seize. 

It’s time to get Daniss Jenkins and Kevin Huerter going 

If Cade Cunningham has to sit tonight, he’ll likely be replaced in the starting five by Daniss Jenkins, who has been struggling lately, and that is putting it nicely. 

But Jenkins has been great as a starter this season, averaging 15.3 points, 5.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game in seven appearances as a starter. If he has to start tonight, let’s hope this can get him going, as the Pistons need one of their role players to step up with the offense sputtering. 

Kevin Huerter finally got off the bench in the last game and played well. Cade Cunningham sang his praises after the game, so hopefully JB Bickerstaff was listening, as just about everyone has had their fill of Caris LeVert. 

Unfortunately, we may see LeVert start tonight, but if not, I’d love to see Huerter slide into the starting lineup to add a little extra offense to that group whether Cade is playing or not. 

Speaking of Cade, now is the perfect time to get him a bit of rest, as he has looked burned out over the last few games. The Pistons have gone up against some of the best teams and defenses in the league over the last 11 games, and Cunningham has been shouldering most of the burden. 

He was great in February, but the Pistons need him at 100 percent and dialed in as the playoffs get closer, so now is not the worst time to get him a game off. The Nets are the first game of a home/road back-to-back with the Heat, so if the Pistons can steal a win tonight without Cade, it would be a big help.