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Rodney Stuckey, Ben Wallace both practice, expected to play

Good to Go

by Keith Langlois
Just as bad news has come in waves at the Pistons this year, so have their returns from injury tended to coincide. So not only do they expect Rodney Stuckey – fully cleared medically now after his March 5 collapse at Cleveland – to be ready to play Friday at Indiana, but Ben Wallace, as well.

Stuckey and Wallace both participated fully in Thursday’s practice and John Kuester said that while they haven’t concluded yet that both will play Friday, “there’s a very good chance for both of those guys,” he said.

Kuester had said earlier this week that the Pistons were expecting to hear by Thursday morning whether Stuckey would be fully cleared. It was reported that he had worn a heart monitor for about one week with daily consultations with the medical team at the Cleveland Clinic, where Stuckey was first admitted and observed overnight after collapsing in the third quarter of the March 5 loss to the Cavaliers.

Stuckey declined to comment other than telling waiting reporters on his way to the locker room, “I’m good. I feel fine.”

Wallace wasn’t much more expansive, repeatedly saying that his right knee that has caused him to miss time “feels good” and “I feel good.”

“(Stuckey) took part in everything and did a great job, as did Ben Wallace,” Kuester said. “He looks as rested as I’ve ever seen him, so that’s the good news. He was very active today in practice.”

Kuester said he anticipates bringing both Stuckey and Wallace off the bench, leaving Will Bynum and Jason Maxiell in the starting lineup at least for the time being. Stuckey has missed the last six games and Wallace the last eight. In his six starts, Bynum is averaging 12.5 points and 8.5 assists; in his eight starts, Maxiell is averaging 10.9 points and 11.3 rebounds.

The returns of Stuckey and Wallace would leave Chris Wilcox as the only remaining name in the injury report. Wilcox has missed the last 12 games with a sore back.

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