Detroit Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart likely out for rest of NBA season with left shoulder injury

Detroit Free Press

The injury woes keep piling for the Detroit Pistons.

Isaiah Stewart will miss three-to-four weeks with a left shoulder impingement, the team announced Thursday.

The news comes three days after Hamidou Diallo suffered a right ankle sprain against the Portland Trail Blazers, which will also cause him to miss three-to-four weeks. With one month remaining in the schedule — the regular season finale is April 9 — it’s likely both players have made their final appearance this season.

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Stewart, 21, had missed the previous four games with hip soreness. The third-year big man stretched his game this season and averaged a career-high 11.3 points while knocking down 32.7% of his 205 3-point attempts — nearly double the 109 3-pointers he took during his first two seasons combined — in just 50 games (47 starts). That percentage was well below the league average of 36%, but could serve as a stepping stone for him eventually becoming an effective shooter.

He averaged 8.1 rebounds over 28.3 minutes per game, and maintained his status as the most versatile defender of Detroit’s four young big men.

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Stewart, drafted No. 16 overall in 2020 out of Washington, is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, ahead of the final year on his rookie deal.

His injury means the Pistons will continue leaning on James Wiseman, who arrived at the trade deadline. Jalen Duren, who has missed five games with ankle soreness, will also step back into a featured role when he returns Thursday vs. Charlotte.

Bojan Bogdanovic (left Achilles tendinopathy) and Alec Burks (left foot soreness) have also missed time due to injury and both remain out. Bogdanovic could soon be shut down for the season, The Athletic reported Wednesday.

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Listen to “The Pistons Pulse” every Tuesday morning and on demand on freep.com or wherever you listen to podcasts. Our latest show, embedded in the story above, examines Jaden Ivey’s recent surge and more. Catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa.

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