Before Monday night’s game against the Miami Heat, the Detroit Pistons had planned to play just one fewer starter. Experienced striker Tobias Harris was sidelined with a thumb injury. All other players from the usual starting eleven were not taken into account in the injury report.

But just moments before the Pistons took on the Heat, there was a change in the starting lineup. Veteran Malik Beasley was called up. He replaced the young veteran Jaden Ivey, who was considered a late starter.

According to the Pistons, Ivey is dealing with left knee pain.

Monday’s game will be Ivey’s second absence this year. He missed his first game of the season on November 18, when the Pistons faced the Milwaukee Bucks on the road. He has since started and played in the last 13 games.

During this stretch, Ivey scored 16 points while shooting 41 percent from the field. While he made five three-pointers per game, Ivey knocked down 38 percent of his long-range shots.

Heading into the 2024-2025 NBA season, many questioned Ivey’s suitability alongside starting point guard Cade Cunningham. It’s safe to say that the veteran has silenced the doubters in 25 action games.

Overall, Ivey averaged 17 points while shooting 44 percent from the field. His three-point percentage improved to 37 percent on five attempts per game. In addition to his scoring ability, Ivey has provided four assists per game and grabbed four rebounds per game.

The 22-year-old will take the evening off as the Pistons look for their 11th win of the year against the Heat.