Pistons' Jared Rhoden: Solid numbers off bench Sunday
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Rhoden chipped in 16 points (6-12 FG, 4-8 3Pt), four rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes off the bench during Sunday's 123-95 loss to San Antonio.
The second-year forward played a season high in minutes as the Pistons' roster limped to the finish line on a tough campaign. Rhoden showed an intriguing mix of skills in his late-season audition, going 7-for-13 from three-point range over the final three games while averaging 11.7 points, 4.0 boards, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 assists in 25.7 minutes a contest, but he'll likely still be competing for a spot at the end of the bench in camp next summer.
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Pistons' Marcus Sasser: Pops for 17 in finale
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Sasser notched 17 points (6-13 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds, seven assists and one block in 31 minutes during Sunday's 123-95 loss to the Spurs.
Making his seventh straight start, Sasser drained multiple three-pointers for the sixth time during that stretch. The 23-year-old rookie averaged 14.6 points, 4.6 assists, 2.3 threes, 2.0 boards and 0.9 steals in his starting stint, but the Pistons' overloaded backcourt likely doesn't leave him with a clear path to consistent minutes next season, as Cade Cunningham (knee), Jaden Ivey and Quentin Grimes (knee) all seem set for significant roles when healthy.
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Pistons' James Wiseman: Big double-double Sunday
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Wiseman finished Sunday's 123-95 loss to San Antonio with 21 points (8-17 FG, 5-7 FT), 17 rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals in 40 minutes.
Making his second straight start and sixth since March 22, Wiseman set a season high in boards en route to his seventh double-double of 2023-24. The 23-year-old center has still not lived up to expectations as the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but in his six starts over the final weeks of the season, he averaged 14.7 points and 10.5 rebounds in 33.0 minutes a contest while shooting 59.4 percent from the floor. Wiseman will be a restricted free agent this offseason, but it's not clear if he wants to return to Detroit, or if the Pistons intend to bring him back, with Jalen Duren entrenched as the team's starting center.
Fontecchio (toe) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Spurs.
A right great toe contusion caused Fontecchio to miss the final 14 games of the season. However, before that, he was making an impact for the Pistons, who acquired his services at the trade deadline. In 16 appearances (nine starts) with Detroit, Fontecchio averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.9 steals in 30.2 minutes per game. The sharpshooter will be a restricted free agent this summer.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Out for finale
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Duren (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against San Antonio.
Duren will be sidelined for a second consecutive contest due to back spasms, marking the end of his 2023-24 campaign. The second-year center flashed talent when available with averages of 13.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.8 blocks in 29.1 minutes per game, but his rhythm was disrupted by a series of ankle and back injuries that limited him to 61 appearances. James Wiseman will likely pick up a start at center in Sunday's finale.
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Pistons' Cade Cunningham: Downgraded to out
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Cunningham (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Spurs.
As expected, Cunningham has been downgraded from doubtful to out and will miss the regular-season finale. The third-year guard rebounded from a lost 2022-23 campaign and averaged career highs in points (22.7) and assists (7.5) per game this season. The Pistons' season was disappointing, but Cunningham was a bright spot and figures to be a key part of Detroit's future.
Cunningham (knee) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Spurs.
Cunningham is dealing with left knee tendinopathy, and the Pistons are unlikely to play him in the final game of another lost season for Detroit. Cunningham has missed the last six games, and it wouldn't be shocking if he were to be available given the fact Detroit has nothing to play for Sunday.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Questionable against San Antonio
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Duren (back) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Spurs.
Duren was held out against Dallas on Friday, but the big man remains day-to-day. If the Pistons decide to keep him on the shelf for Sunday, James Wiseman would likely get another opportunity in the starting lineup.
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Pistons' Jaden Ivey: Struggles in win
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Ivey accumulated seven points (3-9 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 1-3 FT), one rebound, five assists and two steals in 28 minutes during Friday's 107-89 victory over the Mavericks.
Ivey's single-digit point total was just his third such performance since Feb. 26. The second-year guard has averaged 16.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.5 triples across 30.5 minutes in his previous 10 games. He will look to end the season strongly when Detroit travels to San Antonio on Sunday.
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Pistons' James Wiseman: Double-double in win
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Wiseman registered 10 points (5-10 FG), 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks across 36 minutes during Friday's 107-89 win over the Mavericks.
Wiseman's double-double marked his sixth of the season and fourth in the last 11 games. In that 11-game stretch, the 2020 No. 2 pick has averaged 7.5 minutes, 6.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.5 blocks across 23.4 minutes. He will look to close out the season strongly in Sunday's game against the Spurs.
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Pistons' Marcus Sasser: Scores 25 points in win
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Sasser finished Friday's 107-89 win over the Mavericks with 24 points (9-20 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 4-4 FT), three rebounds, three assists and one steal across 32 minutes.
Sasser's team-high 24 points marked the second time he has scored as much this season, and he finished two points short of his season high. The 23-year-old has averaged 14.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.4 blocks and 2.2 triples across 30.1 minutes in his last five games. He will look to stay productive in Detroit's season finale in San Antonio on Sunday.
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Pistons' Tosan Evbuomwan: Ineligible for finale
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Pistons head coach Monty Williams confirmed last week that Evbuomwan isn't eligible to play again this season, as the rookie forward has already reached the limit of games in which he can be active as a two-way player, Motown Lowdown reports.
Two-way players prior to the start of the season are eligible to be active for up to 50 of a team's 82 regular-season games at the NBA level, but the number of active games becomes prorated if a player is signed to a two-way deal in-season. After initially joining Detroit on a 10-day deal, Evbuomwan didn't sign his two-way deal with the Pistons until Feb. 23, after which he appeared in 10 of Detroit's subsequent 22 games while averaging 7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.8 three-pointers in 23.8 minutes per game. He's proceeded to sit out each of Detroit's last four games with a "G League assignment" designation on the official injury report, even though the Pistons' affiliate, the Motor City Cruise, had its season end March 29. Evbuomwan will remain out for Sunday's season finale in San Antonio, but he'll remain on Detroit's books through the 2024-25 campaign, since the two-way deal he signed in February was a two-year contract.
Wiseman will start Friday's game against Dallas, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Jalen Duren is sitting out with back spasms, and it's unclear if he'll be available for the season finale on Sunday. In four starts this season, Wiseman holds averages of 14.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
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Pistons' Jalen Duren: Out against Dallas
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Duren (back) won't play against Dallas on Friday.
Listed as questionable heading into Friday with low back spasms, Duren ultimately wasn't able to gain clearance for the penultimate game of the regular season. With Duren sidelined Friday, James Wiseman will likely step in as the Pistons' starting center and could be in store for a 30-plus-minute role if he steers clear of foul trouble.
