Detroit Pistons: Why Marcus Sasser Missed Magic Matchup

Not long before the Detroit Pistons tipped off against the Orlando Magic, the team decided to rule out its reserve rookie, Marcus Sasser.

As Saturday’s game approached, the Pistons downgraded Sasser to questionable, citing knee soreness as the reason. Eventually, the Pistons made the call to rule him out entirely.

Saturday’s game against Orlando marked the first time Sasser was inactive for a game since the December 30 matchup against the Toronto Raptors. It was just the sixth time he didn’t make an appearance on the court for the Pistons.

This season, Sasser’s minutes have fluctuated as he develops into a reserve-level player. Prior to the All-Star break, he saw an increase in playing time, allowing him to have more opportunities to grow his game further.

Since the start of February leading up to the break, Sasser averaged 22 minutes on the court. Coming off the bench, he produced an average of 11 points and five assists while knocking down 45 percent of his threes on 4.4 attempts per game.

When the Pistons returned from the break by facing the Indiana Pacers on the road, Sasser collected ten minutes on the court. During that time, he accounted for nine points after making half of his shots from the field.

Amidst the Pistons’ 14-point loss against the Pacers, Sasser was spotted clearly in pain, favoring his knee. While he was initially on pace to compete against the Magic on Saturday, Sasser was deemed inactive before the tip-off. 

The Pistons put up a good fight against the Magic but fell victim to a Paolo Banchero clutch game-winner. The Pistons fell to 8-48 on the year with a 112-109 loss. The Pistons return to the court on Monday to face the New York Knicks on the road. Sasser’s playing status is currently unclear.