Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart missed his fifth consecutive game due to a persistent knee injury, sitting out Thursday’s matchup against the New York Knicks. Despite taking part in the team’s shootaround that morning, Stewart was officially ruled out for Game 6 of the series. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff noted that the veteran big man has been progressing steadily and increasing his on-court activity day by day.
Stewart had played in the series opener, but his absence since then has left a noticeable gap in the Pistons’ rotation. In his place, center Jalen Duren has taken on a significantly larger role. Duren played 25 minutes in Game 1 with Stewart available, but has since averaged 35 minutes per game through the rest of the first-round playoff series.
Isaiah Stewart’s Knee Injury Tests Pistons’ Frontcourt Depth as Duren and Reed Step Up in PlayoffsPaul Reed Increases Minutes, Helps Pistons Navigate Frontcourt Depth Without Isaiah Stewart
The Pistons have also turned to Paul Reed to help fill the void left by Stewart’s injury. Although Reed saw limited action during the regular season—appearing in 45 games and averaging under 10 minutes—his role has expanded in the postseason. Without Stewart, Reed has contributed with more consistent minutes off the bench.
In Games 2 through 5, Reed averaged about 11 minutes per contest, providing modest production with around three points and slightly over three rebounds per game. While Stewart’s absence has posed challenges for Detroit’s frontcourt depth, the Pistons have managed to redistribute minutes between Duren and Reed as they continue to adjust in the ongoing playoff series.
