Detroit Pistons' Monte Morris out 6-8 more weeks; Jalen Duren, Bojan Bogdanovic near returns
The Detroit Pistons received two good injury updates, and one bad one on Tuesday.
Jalen Duren (right ankle) and Bojan Bogdanovic (left calf strain) are both close to returning from their respective injuries. But they'll have to wait longer for Monte Morris (right quad strain), who will miss 6-8 more weeks after undergoing a PRP injection last Friday.
It's unfortunate news for Morris, a Flint native and former Michigan Mr. Basketball. The 28-year-old guard arrived in Detroit in June, when he was traded from the Washington Wizards. His outside shooting, low turnover rate and veteran experience was expected to immediately lift a young Pistons backcourt. His season debut may not come until late January.
“I always dreamed about playing for the Pistons, just where I grew up,” Morris said in July. ”I was at the Boys and Girls Club a lot. We would get a lot of Pistons gear and I remember when Chauncey, Ben, Tayshaun and Rip came down, it was like 2003, I believe. I was 8 years old running around the Boys and Girls Club. I know what it feels like to be a Piston. I used to watch the games in the nosebleeds at the Palace. That pride of just being a Piston, I know what it feels like.”
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After injuring his calf during training camp, Bogdanovic has now been cleared for full contact. The 34-year-old forward averaged a career-high 21.6 points as Detroit's lead option last season, shooting 48.8% overall and 41.1% from 3. His injury cost him all of preseason and all 15 of the Pistons' regular season games thus far.
Bogdanovic was expected to be an opening-night starter, giving the team needed scoring power alongside Cade Cunningham. In his absence, the Pistons have been overly reliant on Cunningham to generate offense.
Duren, averaging a double-double with 12.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists, has missed seven games, including the last five, with ankle soreness. The team shut him down last week to heal, and he's now close to returning to the starting lineup.
The Pistons have been battered by injuries this season. Isaiah Livers made his season debut Sunday after recovering from a Grade III ankle sprain. There's been no update from the team on when Joe Harris (right shoulder sprain) will be back.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons' Monte Morris (quad strain) out 6-8 more weeks
