Isaiah

Stewart

Initially probable for Wednesday’s game, Stewart is officially available. He’ll slot into his usual backup center role, where Beef Stew offers limited fantasy value. Paul Reed’s minutes will decrease, although Tobias Harris’ (personal) absence may keep him in the rotation.

Stewart missed Monday’s game against Utah, but he is expected to be back against Los Angeles. Paul Reed filled out the backup center minutes against the Jazz, but he won’t have as large of a role with Stewart back in the lineup.

Initially questionable for Monday’s game, Stewart will not play due to a lower back contusion. His absence likely means Paul Reed will enter the rotation, but he’s unlikely to get the run needed to provide reliable streaming value. Jalen Duren remains the starter and may play a few more minutes with Stewart sidelined.

Stewart wasn’t on Detroit’s initial injury report, but there is now a chance that he sits out against Utah. If that happens, Paul Reed will fill out the backup center minutes, which will be a limited role with Jalen Duren healthy.

Duren was fantastic on Saturday, recording his fifth double-double in seven games and a career-high six blocked shots. How out of the ordinary were the six rejections? Duren amassed a total of six in his previous 10 appearances. Over the past two weeks, he has been a third-round player in eight- and nine-cat formats. Of course, Isaiah Stewart (three points, four rebounds, one assist and four blocks in 14 minutes) getting into foul trouble led to Duren playing 30 minutes (or more) for just the fifth time since the beginning of February. He’s been good recently, but Duren managers should keep their expectations in check for a four-game Week 18.

Stewart will also be fined $50,000 for making inappropriate and objectionable gestures following his ejection. Stewart will miss Friday’s home matchup with Dallas, and Jalen Duren could pick up additional playing time in his absence. Paul Reed may see some additional run off the bench as well. Stewart will presumably return for Sunday’s tilt with Chicago.

Things have been testy between the Pistons and Pacers this year. It reached a boiling point for Stewart in the second quarter of Wednesday’s game when he delivered a forearm shiver to Indiana’s Thomas Bryant, sending him to the floor. The refs wasted no time in assessing Stewart with a Flagrant 2 foul, sending him to the locker room. Jalen Duren should pickup extra minutes in the second half. It’s unclear if the league will levy further discipline Stewart’s way.

While he didn’t score much on Thursday, Duren provided the stats many fantasy managers have been looking for in other categories. He’s reached double figures in rebounds in four of his last six outings, and the five defensive contributions were the most in a game for Duren this season. Isaiah Stewart (4/5/1/0/1 in 17 minutes) will continue to have a place within the rotation due to his physicality. Still, as was the case on Thursday, his minutes will be limited when Duren does what he needs to as a rebounder and defender.

Stewart is active after missing Detroit’s last four games. His return means fewer minutes for Paul Reed, who may drop out of the rotation entirely. Jalen Duren will continue to play most of the available minutes at the center position.

Stewart has missed Detroit’s last four games, including the first three of the Pistons’ current road trip. Paul Reed has filled the void as Jalen Duren’s backup, offering limited streaming value in that spot. He’ll lose out on minutes if Stewart is available on Saturday.