The Detroit Pistons may have a few helpful reinforcements back in the lineup against the Phoenix Suns tomorrow night
During the Pistons’ West Coast road swing at the end of 2025, Detroit forward Tobias Harris turned his ankle early in the game in a moment that looked innocuous at first but quickly turned concerning.
Harris stayed in the Lakers game a little longer as he tested the strength of his ankle, but the veteran forward left the game for the Pistons’ locker room and did not return to the contest. Since that time, Harris has remained sidelined in an effort to get back in the lineup, a challenge that’s been difficult considering he had a few nagging injuries to deal with simultaneously apart from his ankle.
“I kind of strained my hip, my hip joint,” Harris said after practice today. “I had a lot of stuff going on even before that, wasn’t really at 100%, so [I] needed to take some days off and let it heal up fully. I was able to do that and feel great now so just ready to get out there and get going.”
In dealing with his hip injury, Harris has missed the last five games for the Pistons, and Detroit managed a 3-2 record in that timespan, sandwiching a brief three-game winning streak between two losses at home. But considering Harris was able to take part in practice earlier today, the 15-year veteran looks one step closer to reentering the Detroit starting lineup, possibly for the squad’s game against the Phoenix Suns tomorrow night at 7 pm.
“Anytime you’re able to get a few practice days in, you can look at each day to come in here and improve,” Harris said. “We always look at that as a goal for us each and every day we step on the floor, so that’s always a positive. Getting guys healthy, myself included, getting myself healthy is also a great thing, just being able to get back on the floor with these guys as well. I think we’re all in a good vibe, good spirits and just ready to go.”
While Harris discussed himself feeling healthier as of late, the Pistons are also looking to get Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren back in the lineup as soon as possible. Cunningham, who’s been dealing with a wrist injury for about a week, has missed the last several games, as has Duren due to his own sprained ankle.
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff did not go into detail about Cunningham or Duren’s status ahead of the Suns game, but both players worked out with the team during their final off day before squaring off with Phoenix, which is a positive sign for the pair of All-Star hopefuls.
On that note, today is the final day to vote for Cunningham and Duren to make the All-Star squad. Cade is safely in the top five, but if JD fails to make the cut from the fan vote, he still has one more chance through the coach’s selection.
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