DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons are nearing their return to the court after an extended four-day break between games and it’s allowed them to, crucially, get healthier.
Signs are pointing toward the [returns of multiple starters and key players](https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2026/01/pistons-get-multiple-injured-players-back-at-practice-amid-rare-gap-in-schedule.html) as front court staples Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart all practiced leading into Thursday’s game against the Phoenix Suns.
Harris, 33, has missed the most time, last taking the court for Detroit on Dec. 30 when he strained his hip against the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to Harris, the hip joint issue that kept him sidelined was already feeling some discomfort prior to the strain.
“Even before (the hip strain), it wasn’t really at 100%,” Harris said Wednesday. “Needed to take some days off and let it heal up fully. I was able to do that, feel great now. Just ready to back out there and get going.”
He was absent five straight games since the strain after already missing 10 games earlier this season due to ankle injuries.
It’s pretty rare for Harris to miss this much time 38 games into a season. Even if he plays the other 44 games left in the regular season — reaching 67 — this will be the fewest he’s played in a non-shortened season since 2013-2014.
Luckily for the Pistons, their record hasn’t suffered much, going 3-2 over the stretch Harris has been out.
“It just takes time and that’s the hard part during an NBA season,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “You just don’t have a lot of time where you don’t have games so that’s why this period was good for us to be able to get all those guys back and healthy.
“It’s treatment and then it’s response. You don’t want to rush it and then the response happens in a negative way and then you’re taking a step back. I think we’ve been really patient with our guys, but they’ve progressed in a positive way.”
Cade Cunningham still a question mark
-------------------------------------
While Stewart, Duren and Harris have been active and working during the open portions of practice this week, star guard Cade Cunningham is still not a sure thing for Thursday.
He’s been dealing with a wrist contusion and missed the last two games and rarely been present when media is viewing practices. With nothing firm, the latest from Bickerstaff is that Cunningham is still a wait-and-see against Phoenix.
“We’ll see. He’s getting better, he’s improving,” Bickerstaff said. “But we’ll see how tomorrow is.”
Despite missing five games during what has been another career season, the Pistons have remained strong without him, posting a 4-1 record in those absences.
But not having Cunningham took a particular toll in the [Pistons’ recent loss to the Los Angeles Clippers](https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2026/01/turnovers-bring-late-collapse-for-pistons-in-defeat-to-clippers.html) where they missed his clutch play while blowing a fourth-quarter lead.