Las vigas The outcome of the match was not as important as the status report on Jaden Ivey’s selection in the first round. It’s always scary when a player awkwardly lands in a play. When the draft choice is best, it is intensified.
Jaden Ivey, ranked No. 5 overall, picked up an ankle after attempting a three-pointer in the first quarter of Saturday’s Summer League game against the Washington Wizards. He limped into the locker room and did not return to play, although he returned to the bench in the second half.
Jordan Brink, the Pistons Summer League coach, said there has been no update on Ivey’s condition, but the level of concern does not appear to be high about the long-term outlook.
“I don’t think we’re too concerned, but I (medical staff) should talk about it,” Brink said. “I haven’t spoken to them yet.”
The Pistons were cruising in the first half, but had to hold out in the fourth quarter for a 105-99 win at the Thomas & Mack center.
The injury bug hit the roster hard, with Ivy (right ankle) and Sabine Lee (left ankle) not returning to the match, and Kylian Hayes not playing.
The Pistons (2-0) had enough depth to withstand injuries, as Isaiah Levers led with 20 points and five rebounds. Braxton Key added 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and Isaiah Stewart 14 points and nine rebounds.
“I thought we moved the ball really well,” Brink said. “We had 23 assists, and that was a point of focus to get the ball going. I thought we dribbled the ball and hit it a lot in the last game.” “We did a really good job playing with the fifth point mentality, moving the ball and creating an open look.
“We made 14 hat-tricks and shot almost 50% of the 3. I think it was just the movement of the ball and the mentality of good passing.”
After making a 27-point lead in the first half and looking to banish the match, the Wizards took the lead behind Jordan Shaquille (24 points) and Jordan Goodwin (20 points and five rebounds).
The Wizards (0-1) had a 91-90 with 3:44 left on a pair of free throws with first-round pick Johnny Davis, but Stewart answered with a 3. Shaquille hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to one again, but Ki He scored at the back door to cut a superb pass from Galen Doreen (13 points, six rebounds) and added a three-pointer to push the lead back to six with 1:50 remaining.
The Washington Bluffs were followed by Goodwin and a pair of free throws from Shaquille to make it 99-97, but Stewart had a tip and added Levers two free throws to give the Pistons some breathing space.
Concern about Ivy was at the fore.
“I was upset for him because he’s a competitor,” Livers said. “If I saw him, he tried to stay. I was telling him, ‘Brother, get off the field and check that out.'” “He’s a great player, a great kid and talented but off the field, he’s a really great teammate.
“He’s already made that impression that he’s really going to be one of his best teammates, so I support him 1000% and hope his ankle is fine.”
In the play, Ivy fell at the defender’s foot and was writhing on the field for a few seconds. He got up and hit the scorer’s table in frustration after the injury. After stumbling for a few more seconds, he was checked by the medical staff.
The defender was called up for a flagrant foul, and Ivey stayed in the match and threw the three free ball, then headed to the locker room for further examination.
Ivey had a strong first quarter, with 11 points, including 3 pointers, three-point play and five free throws.
“I thought you saw him pretty relaxed at the beginning of the game, from game one to game two, just the speed,” Brink said. “We wanted to give him a little more room to work and use his speed. I thought you really saw the game slowing down a bit for him.”
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