97.1 The Ticket -- The Pistons got off to a red-hot start Sunday night in the last game of their west-coast swing, jumping out to an 18-4 lead in the first quarter against the Kings.
That's when veteran point guard Derrick Rose had to leave the game with an apparent ankle injury and did not return. Sacramento went on to win 1061-00, handing the Pistons their eighth loss in nine games.
To compound the problem, the Pistons also lost guard Brandon Knight to a knee injury in the waning moments of the game.
The Pistons have not disclosed the severity of the injuries or when they might return.
Rose, who has battled numerous injuries throughout his career, had played in 50 games so far this season, approaching the highest total he has appeared in since his season with the New York Knicks in 2016-17. After seeing a career renaissance with Minnesota a year ago, Rose has continued that momentum this season, as he leads the team in points (18.1) and assists (5.6) per game.
Detroit acquired Knight in the trade that sent center Andre Drummond to the Cavaliers ahead of the NBA trade deadline last month. Originally drafted by the Pistons 8th overall in 2011, Knight was traded to Milwaukee during the 2013 offseason, before stints with Phoenix, Cleveland and Houston.
With Knight averaging 11.2 points and 3.7 assists in six games since the trade, the Pistons could be spread very thin at the guard position if both Knight and Rose are sidelined for an extended period of time. That could lead to more playing time for the likes of Tim Frazier, Khyri Thomas, and possibly even Jordan Bone, who is on a two-way contract with the Grand Rapids Drive.
