The Detroit Pistons made Jaden Ivey the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft but dealt the 24-year-old guard to the Chicago Bulls at February's trade deadline. Will Ivey suit up to face his former team tonight (Feb. 21) in Chicago, and who else is on the injury report?
The Bulls and Pistons are two franchises headed in opposite directions. While Detroit — which sent Ivey to Chicago as part of a deal that brought Kevin Huerter to the Motor City — is trying to win its first NBA title since 2004, the Bulls finally decided to embrace a rebuild and are tumbling down the standings with an eye on a valuable lottery pick.
Logic would dictate, then, that the Pistons are prepared to leave the United Center with a comfortable victory.
Here's the latest injury news for tonight's game.
Jaden Ivey will miss his first game against his former team
Ivey was a surprise DNP - Coach's Decision in the Bulls' last contest, a 110-101 home loss to the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 19. It gave the league a closer look at everything wrong in Chicago. A roster designed to lose is being coached like one desperate to win.
That will change tonight against Detroit, as Ivey will be in street clothes and evaluated in two weeks as he continues to deal with left knee soreness, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic.
The former Purdue star broke his fibula during a breakout 2024-25 campaign. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in October, and now soreness in his left knee likely further concerns the Bulls, who acquired him with the hopes of seeing an audition before he hits restricted free agency this summer.
Chicago also announced that center Zach Collins, who hasn't played since Dec. 11, will miss the remainder of the season. Collins will have only played 10 games before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Pistons healthy for the regular-season stretch
At 41-13, Detroit owns the best record in the NBA and one of the healthiest rosters.
The Pistons are riding a four-game winning streak heading into Chicago, and are 8-2 in their last 10 games. They're one of the best defensive squads in the league and have an MVP candidate running the offense in Cade Cunningham.
They're also one of the healthiest title contenders. Isaiah Stewart — out due to suspension, not injury — is the only rotation player who will miss tonight's clash.
Full injury report for Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls
The complete injury report for this evening's game is as follows.
Chicago Bulls
Out: Noa Essengue (shoulder); Zach Collins (toe); Jaden Ivey (knee); Yuki Kawamura (G League); Lachlan Olbrich (G League); Mac McClung (G League)
Probable: Leonard Miller (wrist); Guerschon Yabusele (calf)
Detroit Pistons
Out: Isaac Jones (coach's decision); Bobi Klintman (G League); Wendell Moore Jr. (G League); Isaiah Stewart (suspension)