All that remained of guard Reggie Jackson’s rehabilitation of his left knee was for Jackson to pronounce himself ready and available to play for the Detroit Pistons. The team’s medical staff had cleared him and Jackson, who had yet to appear in a game this season, had done his work on the side and logged minutes in practice.
So it was Jackson greenlighting his return that had Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy telling reporters the team’s preferred starting point guard would make his 2016-17 debut Sunday at home against the Orlando Magic (6 p.m. ET, League Pass).
The news came out of the Pistons’ shootaround:
#Pistons Reggie Jackson will make his debut tonight. pic.twitter.com/CE08M4nXbg
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) December 4, 2016
#Pistons SVG says Reggie Jackson's minutes will be limited tonight but he'll start and play a few minutes each quarter.
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) December 4, 2016
The Pistons (11-10) have fared about as well as they could have hoped in playing the first quarter of the season without Jackson, who averaged 18.8 points last season and also was recovering from a right thumb injury.
Backup Ish Smith started all 21 games, averaging 10.8 points, 6.4 assists and 29.6 minutes. Veteran Beno Udrih had backed up Smith at 7.0 points, 3.5 assists, and 17.5 minutes. Detroit ranks 14th in offensive rating (106.7) and 2nd in defensive rating (102.9).
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