Jaden Ivey made a triumphant return to the court on Saturday night, marking his season debut after an extended absence due to injury. The Detroit Pistons fought against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight and earned a 129-116 win. This victory did more than just snap their franchise-record 13-game skid against the Bucks, as it highlighted Ivey’s important help toward the Pistons’ victory.
Ivey, a former USA captain, has been out for more than 10 months after undergoing two surgeries. His most recent game was on New Year’s Day, when he suffered a broken left fibula. His recovery journey included a procedure on October 16 to remove a broken screw from his right knee, where he was feeling lingering pain. Though Ivey had many hurdles to overcome, he didn’t allow that to deter him. He had 10 points (4-6) with two assists and a steal in only 15 bench minutes.
It would go on to be a seminal moment for the Pistons. Milwaukee that had gone back for years and years. With this victory, the Pistons gained a season sweep over the Bucks for the first time in four seasons. That’s quite a turnaround considering they finished with the NBA’s worst record last season at 14-68.
With this victory, the Pistons moved to 14-2 on the season, the best record in the Eastern Conference. What a remarkable winning stretch this is! It’s equal for the third-longest in franchise history, bested only by the magical 13 straight victories wrought during the 1989-90 and 2003-04 campaigns.
Ivey expressed his gratitude for returning to play, stating, “Just cherished the moment to be back out there tonight.” Now that he was really back on the court, his enthusiasm was infectious as he got used to being back out there. He reflected on how different the game felt compared to his last appearance, saying, “When I last played, it was so different.”
Teammate Jalen Duren noted the team’s determination, asserting, “The biggest thing is we’re still hungry.” Their hunger and a commitment to partnership have fueled their extraordinary success. They’ve reported finding a creative spark and synergy between the players that has contributed to their amazing run of form this campaign.
Cade Cunningham emphasized the significance of representing the Pistons and breaking free from past struggles, stating, “I don’t think any franchise should have that over ours. We take playing for the Pistons seriously. So that’s part of representing this, putting the edge to things like that and starting new streaks in our favor.”
Given that Ivey has been consistently solid lately, his return to the lineup only ups the window-dressing effect on an emerging Pistons team. He had played in only one game this preseason. This only made his regular-season debut more highly anticipated, by fans and teammates alike.
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