Detroit — The Detroit Pistons will be short-handed on Saturday night when they host the Brooklyn Nets at Little Caesars Arena. Ausar Thompson will miss the game due to a right ankle sprain, while Cade Cunningham will be sidelined because of a left quadriceps contusion. Both players were injured during Thursday’s 121-106 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Pistons hope Cunningham’s injury will “not be a long-term thing,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
Bickerstaff said Cunningham is day-to-day but added Detroit could be without Thompson for a while.
“A.T. is going to be a minute. From where the ankle sprain was, what happened, and the way he was moving,” Bickerstaff said. “For Deuce, I think it will be more day-to-day. We will keep an eye on him, see how he responds and recovers.”
Thompson’s injury came less than two minutes into the game against the Spurs. He twisted his right ankle while attacking downhill on Spurs guard Stephon Castle. He instantly fell to the ground in pain but was able to walk off the court on his own.
The ankle sprain has halted what had been a productive four-game stretch for Thompson, who was averaging 13.5 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.8 steals over that period.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Pistons down two key players for game vs. Nets
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
