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The Detroit Pistons will be without their 2023 first-round pick for the remainder of the season.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Pistons rookie forward Ausar Thompson will sit out the rest of the year while being treated for a blood clot.
Thompson was cleared by the Pistons team physician to resume conditioning and he will begin non-contact basketball activities toward the end of the season before gradually ramping up over the summer in preparation for a full return next season. In addition to losing Thompson for the season, center Isaiah Stewart was ruled out for the remainder of the year with a right hamstring strain, Detroit said in a press release:
Pistons PR @Pistons_PR
The @DetroitPistons announced today the following medical updates: pic.twitter.com/9zNkuZ74ur
Thompson appeared in 63 games this season with 38 starts and averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He led the Pistons with 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.
The Pistons selected Thomspon with the fifth overall pick after he spent the previous two seasons in Overtime Elite. His twin brother, Amen, was selected by the Houston Rockets with the No. 4 pick.
Losing their first-round pick is just par for the course in a dreadful season for the Pistons. At 12-56, Detroit has the second-worst record in the league and set an NBA record by losing 28 straight games earlier this season.
Without Thompson in the lineup, the veteran forward Evan Fournier and first-year forward Simone Fontecchio will see more action in the frontcourt.
The Pistons will be trying to snap a three-game skid when they face the Indiana Pacers (38-31) on Wednesday night.
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