JB Bickerstaff updates the status of Jaden Ivey on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 and looks ahead to the Detroit Pistons’ preseason finale on Thursday against the Wizards.
Before the game, the Detroit Pistons had some bad news to share: Jaden Ivey will miss at least a month after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee.
Their final preseason game, a win at Little Caesars Arena, was a preview of how they will adjust to life without the guard. They defeated the Washington Wizards, 119-98, on Thursday, October 16, to finish the preseason with a 2-2 overall record. They will now prepare for the regular season, which begins on the road against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday (8 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit).
Cade Cunningham stayed hot, finishing with 16 points, 12 assists, a pair of steals and a block in 24 minutes. Jalen Duren also dominated with 20 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals. They set the tone from the start, leading the Pistons to a 39-23 lead early in the second quarter.
CJ McCollum (17 points) led the Wizards with four 3-pointers in the third quarter to briefly take the lead, 70-69. The Pistons responded with consecutive triples – one from Cunningham and two from Duncan Robinson (10 points) – to regain the lead permanently. They shot 53.6% overall and held the Wizards to 36.8%.
Daniss Jenkins reached double figures with 11 points and three assists, and Paul Reed also scored 11 points. Tobias Harris and rookie wing Chaz Lanier each scored nine points and four assists. Ausar Thompson scored eight points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block.
Bickerstaff separates Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson
Last season, the coaching staff escalated Ivey and Cunningham so that at least one of them was on the court at all times. With Ivey scheduled to miss at least a month, Thompson has assumed his role as secondary ball handler.
After being subbed out early, Thompson replaced Cunningham again with 4:34 left in the first quarter. He wasn’t solely responsible for creating plays, though: Jenkins checked in a minute later and made an immediate impact. Thompson and Jenkins controlled the pace of the game until Cunningham replaced Jenkins again at the 7:23 mark of the second.
Coach JB Bickerstaff said before the game that several players will handle playmaking responsibilities until Ivey returns. But Thompson will have a prominent role, having participated in all four preseason games.
The poster of two greats returns
Bickerstaff teased during training camp that, after virtually being on hiatus for a year, the two-big lineup with Duren and Isaiah Stewart would return. In fact, he did, briefly in the first quarter, when Stewart checked in at the 8:13 mark to join Duren, Cunningham and Robinson. Duren and Cunningham left together with 4:34 left in the period, and Stewart stayed there before Paul Reed replaced him with 1:35 left.
Stewart is hitting 3-pointers again and looks like he’ll spend time at backup power forward and center this season. He has been the preferred center whenever Thompson and Ron Holland share the floor, due to his shooting ability, and provides the necessary size at the four when Tobias Harris sits down.
The combination of two bigs won’t be an every-night option, but it will help the Pistons against the league’s biggest starting five, including two teams in their division, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks.
Daniss Jenkins continues to shine
When he was called up, the point guard on a two-way contract was ready. After starting Tuesday’s loss to the Cavaliers, Jenkins bounced back during the first quarter against the Wizards. His presence was felt immediately, as he hit a mid-range jumper, converted a tough layup through contact from McCollum, and recorded a steal and an assist on Reed, all in the final three minutes of the quarter.
It was another efficient night for Jenkins, who made four of his seven shot attempts after going 5 of 6 from the floor for 19 points two days earlier. He has expressed confidence that he is ready for an opportunity after promising seasons in Summer League and the preseason, as has Bickerstaff. With Ivey out, it could be Jenkins’ chance to prove he’s an NBA-caliber guard.
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