Jaden Ivey is eligible for a rookie extension after this season Pistons Guard has bounced back from a subpar sophomore campaign. With Cade Cunningham Ivey was sidelined with a hip injury and scored the game-winning goal against Toronto on Monday. He finished the game with 25 points and eight assists. He averages 18.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
“(Ivey) played a complete basketball game (Monday).” Piston trainer JB Bickerstaff said, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. “He’s good enough to do it again and again. He just has to trust the way he does and continue to have faith in the work he's done. … For me it wasn't just the last attempt. He was phenomenal at the start of the game and in all minutes, setting the tone and attacking when he needed to be aggressive. But I thought he did an incredible job of running the entire field (Monday), making sure his teammates were involved and keeping us organized. Just from a point guard perspective, it was a big step for JI.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- Pistons Second-year forward Ausar Thompson made his season debut on Monday. After his rookie season was cut short due to blood clotting issues, he was medically cleared to play this month. He had five points, four assists and three rebounds. “I was able to play freely” Thompson said. “I have done a lot of conditioning training over the last eight months. It was simply the first game in eight months. About 260 days. I just don't know what to expect. And playing with a new coach for the first time. My boys had my back and showed me what to do out there. Just played basketball.”
- Chris Middletonwho still has to make his season debut for them dollarparticipated in full 5-on-5 battles on Monday, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Video link). Middleton, who is recovering from an ankle injury, has been medically cleared to play and the club hopes he will return to action shortly after Thanksgiving.
- Pacemaker guard Tyrese Haliburton made nine 3-pointers on Monday. He has made 18 of 39 attempts in the last three games, breaking out of a perimeter crisis. Despite the recent increase, he has only completed 32.9 percent of his distance attempts this season. “I think my individual performance and how I see it, I really don’t care if we win. I was frustrated with myself because I feel like if I were myself, we would win the games we lost. I care more about us winning than what my numbers necessarily look like. But of course it’s a good feeling to see the ball go in.” he told Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star.