Pistons guard Jaden Ivey exits court on stretcher after collision with Cole Anthony
Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey was enjoying a career year, which will now probably have to be put on hold.
The former fifth overall pick exited Wednesday's game on a stretcher after a collision with Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony left him writhing in pain on the court. The scene immediately interrupted the action, with several players from both teams surrounding Ivey as trainers attended to him.
Further replay showed Ivey's ankle was bent several degrees the wrong way.
It was a somber scene as Ivey received treatment, with Anthony in tears as he looked on. The crowd applauded Ivey multiple times and chanted his last name as he was wheeled off with a Gatorade towel covering his left leg.
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff didn't provide any specifics about the injury after the game, but commented on its impact on the team, via Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press:
Such an injury would be brutal for any player, but it's particularly bad for Ivey given that he seemed to be taking a step forward in his third NBA season.
Before Wednesday, Ivey had been averaging career highs nearly across the board, including in points (17.4 per game), rebounds (4.2), steals (0.9), field-goal percentage (45.3%) and 3-point percentage (39.2%). That performance is a major reason why the Pistons have already equaled last year's win total with a record of 14-18 entering Wednesday's game.
Pistons guard Jaden Ivey sustains leg injury in victory over the Magic
DETROIT (AP) — Detroit guard Jaden Ivey sustained what appeared to be a severe injury to his lower left leg in the fourth quarter of Detroit’s victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.
Orlando’s Cole Anthony slipped and fell as he and Ivey went for the ball. Anthony’s momentum carried him into Ivey’s planted leg, knocking Ivey to the floor. The 22-year-old was in obvious distress as he grabbed for his shin, and Detroit’s medical staff quickly attended to him.
Members of the training staff held up towels to block the crowd’s view of the injury and players from both teams formed a circle around him. After a lengthy delay, he was loaded onto a stretcher and wheeled out of the arena with a towel covering the injury.
Players from both teams consoled both Ivey and Anthony, who was noticeably shaken by the play.
“It is tough for all of us,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after Detroit’s 105-96 victory. “There’s no better person or teammate than J.I. and no one cares more about this than he does. I give the guys credit for getting it done - they care about him and they didn’t want to let him down.”
Ivey led the Pistons with 22 points.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Pistons guard Jaden Ivey taken off court on stretcher with apparent serious leg injury
Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey was stretchered off the floor on Wednesday night during his team's 105-96 win over the Orlando Magic. Ivey appeared to suffer a serious leg injury during a collision with Magic guard Cole Anthony.
"It's tough. It's tough on all of us," Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game. "No better teammate, person than J.I. No one who cares more about this thing than him. It's tough to see."
Bickerstaff did not provide an update on Ivey's status.
Early in the fourth quarter, Cade Cunningham missed a 3-pointer and both Ivey and Anthony chased after the loose ball. As Ivey bent down to try and pick it up, Anthony came diving in and crashed into the Pistons guard's leg. Ivey's left foot and ankle got trapped under Anthony's body, while his lower leg and knee bent awkwardly from the force of the collision.
Ivey crashed to the floor and screamed out in pain. He was soon surrounded by medical personnel, who worked quickly to stabilize his leg. Once that was complete, he was loaded onto a stretcher and wheeled off the court. An emotional Anthony watched on along with players and coaches from both teams.
As Ivey was taken off the court, the Detroit crowd chanted his name.
Ivey finished the night with 22 points and four assists on 8 of 11 from the field in what was another strong performance from the third-year guard, who had been playing well since returning from a two-game absence due to knee soreness.
"At the heart of this team, and what we've tried to preach all year since we've been here is togetherness," Bickerstaff said after the Pistons pulled away to win the game without Ivey. "If one guy goes down, you don't want to let that guy down, so everybody else has to step up. Again, it's the emotions, it's the human aspect of it, but I thought our guys did a really good job of just sticking together and getting it done."
There has been no official word about Ivey's status, but based on his reaction and the medical attention he received, it's certainly possible that his season is over. At the very least, he seems set for a long spell on the sidelines.
Entering Wednesday, Ivey was averaging 17.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and four assists while shooting 39.2% from 3-point range. Save for assists, all of those numbers are career highs. After a frustrating sophomore season under Monty Williams, Ivey, the fifth pick in the 2022 draft, was enjoying a breakout campaign in Bickerstaff's first year in charge.
Jaden Ivey’s 4-point play with 3 seconds left rallies Pistons past Kings 114-113
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Jaden Ivey converted a four-point play with 3 seconds left and the Detroit Pistons rallied past the struggling Sacramento Kings 114-113 on Thursday night.
With the Pistons trailing by three, Ivey made a 3-pointer in the right corner and was fouled by De’Aaron Fox. Ivey hit the free throw to cap a 19-point comeback in the second half.
Fox missed a halfcourt shot at the buzzer.
Cade Cunningham scored 33 points to lead the Pistons. Malik Beasley added 22 off the bench, including six 3-pointers.
The Kings, who played without Domantas Sabonis (illness), led 68-53 at halftime after shooting 54% in the half.
Fox paced Sacramento with 26 points, and Trey Lyles had 20 off the bench.
Lyles had 15 at halftime. He scored 13 unanswered points in the second quarter to spark a 17-4 run by the Kings, who jumped out to a 16-point lead in the period.
Pistons: Detroit (14-17) has won three straight and already equaled its win total from last season. The Pistons were coming off impressive wins over the Suns and Lakers.
Kings: Sacramento (13-18) was swept on a five-game homestand, marking its longest losing streak since Mike Brown took over as coach in 2022. This was probably the worst loss of the season.
Ivey’s four-point play over Fox with his toe just behind the 3-point line gave the Pistons an improbable road win.
The Kings were held to just two field goals in the final 3:36 and were outscored 37-22 in the fourth quarter.
Both teams are on the road Saturday, with the Kings visiting the Lakers and the Pistons at the Nuggets.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Jaden Ivey leads Detroit Pistons to first home win since January, 118-112 over Brooklyn
Jaden Ivey scored 34 points and Cade Cunningham had 32 points and 11 assists to lead the Detroit Pistons to their first home win since January, 118-112 over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
Detroit (10-52) had lost nine of 10 and hadn't won a home game since a 120-104 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 28.
"I told the guys, you just have to do enough to win the game," Pistons coach Monty Williams said. "We had to dig deep, but we made enough plays down the stretch."
Dennis Schroder had a season-high 31 points for Brooklyn, which had won three of four. Lonnie Walker IV scored 21. The Nets allowed 13 offensive rebounds and 23 second-chance points.
"The rebounding was the biggest difference tonight," said Nic Claxton, who finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. "When we are letting them get that many missed shots, it is a big momentum changer."
The game was tied at 98, but the Pistons went on a 9-0 run in 72 seconds to go up 107-98 with 5:05 to play. Cunningham scored the first six of those points, finishing with a fast-break dunk. After another Brooklyn miss, Cunningham set up Ivey for a 3-pointer.
"(Ivey) is getting back to shooting the ball the way we know he can," Williams said. "He needs to balance making those shots and getting to the basket, because no one can stop that kid from getting to the basket.
"Cade was just Cade."
Brooklyn got as close as five, but Cunningham hit two more jumpers and three free throws. He and Ivey combined for 26 points in the fourth quarter.
"We talked about playing fast before the game," Ivey said. "All the guys shared the ball tonight, but we were looking for each other."
The Nets led by three at halftime and had the advantage for most of the third. However, the Pistons used a late 12-0 run to go ahead 85-81 at the end of the quarter.
The Pistons led 11-0 and 26-8 at points in the first quarter, but the Nets followed up a 16-point first with 41 in the second on their way to a 57-54 halftime lead. Brooklyn shot 77.3% (17 for 22) in the second quarter.
"We got behind by 18 for the second game in a row," Nets interim coach Kevin Ollie said. "We had the opportunity to come back in the last game, but we can't keep living in that world. It just puts so much pressure on you to come back."
Nets: At the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.
Pistons: Host the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.
