LAS VEGAS — The outcome of the game wasn’t as important as the status report on first-round pick Jaden Ivey. It’s always scary when a player lands awkwardly on a play. When it’s a top draft pick, it’s intensified.
Jaden Ivey, the No. 5 overall pick, suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter of Saturday’s summer-league matchup against the Washington Wizards. He hobbled to the locker room and did not return to play, though he did return to the bench in the second half.
The Pistons were cruising in the first half but had to hold on in the fourth quarter for a 105-99 victory at Thomas & Mack Center.
The injury bug is hitting the roster hard, as Ivey (right ankle) and Saben Lee (left ankle) didn’t return to the game, and Killian Hayes didn’t play.
The Pistons (2-0) had enough depth to withstand the injuries, with Isaiah Livers leading the way with 20 points and five rebounds, Braxton Key 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists and Isaiah Stewart 14 points and nine rebounds.
After building a 27-point lead in the first half and looking to put the game away, the Wizards chipped away at the lead behind Jordan Schakel (24 points) and Jordan Goodwin (20 points and five rebounds).
The Wizards (0-1) got within 91-90 with 3:44 left on a pair of free throws by first-round pick Johnny Davis, but Stewart answered with a 3-pointer. Schakel hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one again, but Key scored on a back-door cut off a nifty pass from Jalen Duren (13 points and six rebounds) and Livers added a 3-pointer to push the lead back to six with 1:50 remaining.
Washington followed with a jumper by Goodwin and a pair of free throws from Schakel to make it 99-97, but Stewart had a tip-in and Livers added two free throws to give the Pistons some breathing room.
The concern about Ivey was at the forefront, though.
On the play, Ivey landed on the defender’s foot and was writhing on the court for a few seconds. He got up and slammed the scorer’s table in frustration after the injury. After hobbling around for a few more seconds, he was examined by the medical staff.
The defender was called for a flagrant foul, and Ivey stayed in the game and made all three free throws, then headed to the locker room for further examination.
Ivey was having a solid first quarter, with 11 points, including a 3-pointer, a three-point play and five free throws.
