The Detroit Pistons will be without their starting center, Isaiah Stewart, for the third consecutive game. He’s currently out with a knee injury. With Stewart’s absence, unvaccinated or not, raises a huge hurdle for the Pistons. They’ll have to get ready again, though, as the aggressive, heavy-handed New York Knicks await this afternoon in a critical playoff duel. This important and competitive Council race will take place on Tuesday night in New York City.
Stewart has played a vital role in the Pistons’ lineup, and his continued absence may impact the team’s performance. The Pistons are hell bent on staying hot. Yet they come into the playoffs full of confidence despite the loss of one of their cornerstones.
On the flip side, the Knicks are hiding their center worries too with Mitchell Robinson up in the air. As of the writing of this post, Robinson was listed as questionable due to illness and his availability for Game 4 will be a game-day decision. He last played in the series opener on April 19. In that game, he played 19 minutes as a reserve and posted six points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
As the series continued, Robinson became a non-factor. He only managed two points, 11 boards and two steals in Games 2 and 3 combined. His physicality and presence on the court will be key for the Knicks as they look to take advantage of the Pistons’ ongoing woes.
Knicks head coach J.B. Bickerstaff admitted it has been a juggling act keeping his players healthy in the postseason. He stated, “It would be really difficult to put him in the situation,” referring to Robinson’s potential return.
There is some good news on the Pistons’ front! Jaden Ivey is making significant progress in his recovery from a broken left leg, which he suffered in early January. Ivey getting cleared for no-contact 1-on-1 drills! That’s a strong sign he’s making good progress and getting closer to a return to full practice in the near future. His young guard’s improvement will be a big shot in the arm for the Pistons as they look to improve and go deeper into the playoffs.
With Game 4 set to start this evening, the pressure is on for both teams. The Pistons will look to find ways to fill the void left by Stewart while hoping for a strong performance from their remaining players. The Knicks will have to play it carefully with Robinson, but his healthy return may be the most important factor in the Knicks’ playoffs run.
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