Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey broke the fibula in his left leg during his team’s 105-96 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, according to ESPN and the Detroit Free Press. The Pistons have not released an official update on Ivey’s status, but he will miss “at least most of the remainder of the season.” by ESPN. The team plans to be cautious about rehabbing Ivey, but they are not ruling out a return.
Detroit, however, feels there is “no additional damage to ligaments or tendons,” according to the Free Press, citing a team source.
Early in the fourth quarter, Cade Cunningham missed a 3-pointer and Ivey and Magic guard Cole Anthony chased down the loose ball. As Ivey bent down to try to pick it up, Anthony dove towards him and crashed into the leg. Ivey’s left foot and ankle remained trapped under Anthony’s body, while his leg and knee were awkwardly bent of the force of the collision.
Ivey crashed to the ground and screamed in pain. He was quickly surrounded by medical personnel who quickly worked to stabilize his leg. Once this was completed, he was loaded onto a stretcher and taken off the field. An emotional Anthony watched the game with players and coaches from both teams.
“It’s tough. It’s tough for all of us,” Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff said. said after the match. “No better teammate, no one than JI. No one who cares about this thing more than him. It’s hard to see.”
As Ivey was taken off the field, the Detroit crowd chanted his name.
Ivey finished with 22 points and four assists and shot 8 of 11 from the field against Orlando. It was another strong performance in a string of them since returning from a two-game absence due to left knee inflammation in mid-December.
“At the heart of this team, and what we’ve tried to preach all year since we’ve been here, is unity,” Bickerstaff said. “If one guy goes down, you don’t want to let him down, so everyone else has to step up. Again, it’s the emotions, it’s the human aspect, but I thought our guys did a really good job “Just stick together and make it happen.”
Ivey, the No. 5 pick in the 2022 draft, has started all 30 games he has appeared in this season. If the two games he missed with left knee inflammation are any indication, then second-year wing Ausar Thompson will take his place in the starting lineup and second-year point guard Marcus Sasser will lead the second unit.
In year three, Ivey is averaging 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists and shooting 40.9% from 3-point range. With the exception of assists, all of these numbers are career highs. After a frustrating second season under Monty Williams, Ivey enjoyed an exceptional campaign with Bickerstaff in charge. The Pistons are 15-18 on the season and in ninth place in the East.
