The Detroit Pistons, already thin on depth, just suffered another major injury setback.
Jerami Grant will be out indefinitely after suffering a UCL ligament sprain of his right thumb, the team announced Sunday. The injury happened during the first quarter of Friday’s loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, when he bent the thumb while diving on a loose ball.
Grant will be re-evaluated in six weeks, giving him a chance to return toward the end of January.
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There’s never a good time for a team to lose a player as important as Grant is to the Pistons, but his injury comes as the team is mired in an 11 game losing streak, and is still awaiting the return of Kelly Olynyk, who will be re-evaluated around Christmas for a left knee sprain.
The Pistons have already been forced to play small since Olynyk’s injury in mid-November, and coach Dwane Casey will now have to improvise even more. Grant’s absence could open additional minutes for rookie Luka Garza, and two-way forward Jamorko Pickett could also be in the mix. Detroit will host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
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The Athletic initially reported Grant’s injury.
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