NBA Notes: Pistons, Cade Cunningham, Grizzlies, Ty Jerome, Pacers

Pistons

Pistons star Cade Cunningham is dealing with a wrist issue on his shooting hand and trying to walk the line between treatment, rest, and staying on the floor.

Not ideal. Not simple. But necessary.

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledged the challenge, via Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. Bickerstaff noted that a wrist injury on a shooter’s dominant hand is the kind of thing that lingers and complicates everything.

The hope is time helps. The reality is Cunningham wants to play.

Cunningham downplayed the concern publicly, saying he felt good heading into Sunday’s game, but admitted the mental side has been the toughest part. Adjusting. Trusting the shot. Fighting the instinct to flinch. Wondering how much he can help while managing pain.

He believes the injury traces back to a fall against the Cavaliers on January 4, then worsened after taking another hit against the Knicks the next night.

The good news, in his view, is that playing on it should not make it worse unless it takes another direct blow.

In short, Cunningham is choosing toughness. Detroit is choosing caution. The balance is ongoing.

Grizzlies

Ty Jerome is getting close.

Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo said Jerome has progressed to live five-on-five and could be nearing a return within the next one to two weeks, per Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Conditioning and workload remain the final hurdles, but the trajectory is positive.

Jerome signed a three-year deal with the Grizzlies after a breakout season in Cleveland, where he emerged as one of the league’s most effective bench scorers. He finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting while averaging 12.5 points and 3.4 assists in under 20 minutes per game.

Memphis expects his scoring punch and playmaking to help stabilize the backcourt once he is fully ramped up.

Pacers

Bennedict Mathurin is nearing a return, and Indiana’s offense could use it.

Mathurin is listed as questionable for the Pacers’ upcoming game against Atlanta, via Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star. And history suggests that once Indiana upgrades a player to that tag, a return often follows quickly.

He has missed 11 straight games with a right thumb sprain, an injury he initially tried to play through before stepping away to heal. It is the second significant absence of his season after a toe injury sidelined him early.

When healthy, Mathurin has been one of Indiana’s most reliable scoring options. He is second on the team at 17.8 points per game, trailing only Pascal Siakam and narrowly ahead of Andrew Nembhard.