In a pivotal matchup with their season on the line, the Detroit Pistons will be without their key defensive cog for a fourth straight game.
According to the latest injury report, Pistons center/forward Isaiah Stewart (right knee inflammation) will miss Game 5 of their first-round series against the New York Knicks, which tips off Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Madison Square Garden.
Although the Pistons were able to pick up a Game 2 victory in New York without him, the absence of Stewart’s defensive presence has been glaring over the past three games.
“It would be really difficult to put him in the situation,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said on Sunday regarding Stewart’s return to the series.
In addition to Jalen Duren in stretches, the Pistons have thrown multiple bodies at Knicks All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, including Paul Reed and even cross-matching Tobias Harris on him. The strategy appeared to have some success in their Game 2 win, as Towns was held to 10 points and didn’t attempt a single shot in the final quarter.
However, over the last two games, Towns is averaging 29 points on 48.8% shooting from the field and a staggering 60% from 3-point range.
In the final seconds of Game 4 at Little Caesars Arena, Towns nailed what ended up being a dagger 3-pointer with 47 seconds left in the controversial finish to give the Knicks a 94-93 win and a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.
If Detroit is able to overcome New York on Tuesday, Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first-round series will take place Thursday, May 1, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
