At long last, the Pistons will finally get Ausar Thompson back from an injury. Detroit has missed their elite wing defender for nearly 6 straight games with an ankle sprain, but gets him back today against the Raptors. He last played on March 5th, when he logged just 2 minutes in San Antonio before the sprain sidelined him until now.
However, the Pistons will be trading one potential All-Defense candidate for another. Isaiah Stewart will miss the game due to a left calf strain. While the Pistons are definitely happy to get Thompson back, they will miss Stewart's strong defensive presence and unique skillset. Hopefully, the team can get fully healthy as they prepare for the playoffs in just a month.
Ausar Thompson will have a big role to play in Toronto
Thompson may be rusty in his first game back from injury, especially with his supremely athletic playstyle. The Raptors won't make anything easy on him, as they have their own big athletic wings that will bring physicality to both ends. Like Thompson, Raptors star Scottie Barnes is also known for his defensive versatility and athletic ability.
Even if Thompson and Barnes don't directly match up often, Ausar will still be a key cog in the Pistons' defense. JB Bickerstaff's defensive system thrives on Ausar disrupting plays and shutting down primary scorers. He will likely get the assignment against Brandon Ingram, who was named an All-Star in his own right this season and averages over 21 points per game.
The Pistons can weather Stewart's absence in this game
Fortunately, the Pistons have a luxury that can help them overcome Stewart's injury: Paul Reed. Reed is typically the third-string center for Detroit but always shines whenever he has an extended opportunity. In the Pistons' last matchup with the Raptors, they were missing both Stewart and starting center Jalen Duren to suspension but Reed stepped up in a blowout win.
Reed had 22 points, including 16 in the first quarter, of that 18-point win on February 11th. His proven track record against Toronto should alleviate the Pistons' concerns of being without Stewart. Reed even brings a strong defensive presence of his own; he had 3 steals and 4 blocks in last outing against the Raptors.
The Raptors will be without rookie Collin Murray-Boyles due to a thumb sprain in this game. He has been out since February 25th with the injury. Murray-Boyles has put together a solid rookie campaign, especially on defense, since being drafted 9th overall. The Raptors have missed his length and versatility during his absence.
The biggest news from the Pistons' injury report is definitely Ausar Thompson's return. His importance to the team's defense has been apparent during his absence, and bringing him back should only help extend the current win streak.