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 Shams Charania of ESPN. 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 toward him and crashed into the Pistons guard’s 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 the night with 22 points and four assists and shot 8 of 11 from the field in what was another strong performance from the third-year guard, who has been playing well since returning from a two-game absence due to knee pain.
“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.”
Detroit has yet to release an official update on Ivey’s status or a potential timetable for his return.
Entering Wednesday, Ivey was averaging 17.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and four assists while shooting 39.2 percent from 3-point range. With the exception of assists, all of these numbers are career highs. After a frustrating sophomore season under Monty Williams, Ivey, the fifth overall pick in the 2022 draft, was enjoying a breakout campaign in Bickerstaff’s first year in charge.
