The Detroit Pistons are looking to bounce back on Wednesday after suffering their first loss of the season at the hands of the New York Knicks. On the second night of a back-to-back, the Pistons host the 3-1 Charlotte Hornets.
The injury bug hit the NBA early this season. Many All-Stars are already sidelined with various injuries. Jalen Duren is one of them. He will continue to be out for at least another week after suffering a hamstring strain in the second game of the season. In his absence, the Pistons will continue to start Paul Reed at center.
Reed has once again stepped into a big role seamlessly. He was one of the few bright spots for Detroit on Tuesday night, and he will have to play as many minutes as he can handle against the Hornets.
Ausar Thompson probable, Isaiah Joe out vs. Hornets on Wednesday
Pistons fans were wondering whether Ausar Thompson would be available on Wednesday after making his return from an ankle sprain in New York. Even though he continues to be on the injury report, he was listed as probable on the 2 pm EST injury report.
If Thompson suits up, the Pistons will expect him to be better against the Hornets. He struggled on Tuesday night, frustrating some fans with his lack of aggressiveness. His inability to make an impact offensively was one of the reasons the Pistons had their worst offensive output of the season.
Isaiah Joe, on the other hand, will miss his second straight game. He suffered a hip contusion following a nasty fall in Philadelphia on Sunday and is listed as out. In his absence, Daniss Jenkins and Kevin Huerter will get an extended run.
Pistons fans are hoping to see Ebuka Okorie in action, but the talented rookie doesn't seem to have head coach JB Bickerstaff's trust. He has almost exclusively been used in garbage time so far this season. Whether Bickerstaff will give him a chance on the second night of a back-to-back remains to be seen.
The Hornets are off to a solid start despite being without Coby White and Kon Knueppel. The two guards will miss the Pistons clash as well, putting a lot of offensive burden on Brandon Miller. The Pistons have won the last five occasions between the two teams, including last year's contentious clash that resulted in four suspensions following a brawl.
Given that most of the players involved in the brawl -Duren, Isaiah Stewart, and Miles Bridges- are not going to be there, we can expect a quieter game this time around. But the Pistons have to bring the aggressiveness and intensity regardless to avoid falling to 3-2.
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