Isaiah Stewart, three other Pistons enter COVID protocols

Pistons center Isaiah Stewart and guards Killian Hayes and Saben Lee have entered the league’s health and safety protocols ahead of their game against Miami Thursday evening, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Reserve swingman Rodney McGruder has also entered protocols, The Athletic’s James Edwards III adds.

Top pick Cade Cunningham entered protocols on Wednesday. The Pistons, who have lost 15 of their last 16 games, will obviously be severely shorthanded for the contest.

Those players will be sidelined at least 10 days, unless they can register two consecutive negative COVID-19 tests at least 24 hours apart during that span.

Stewart is averaging 7.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Hayes has started regularly as well, but he’s averaging just 6.4 points and 3.7 assists. Lee has come off the bench in 15 games and scored 16 points against the Knicks on Tuesday. McGruder has appeared in 14 games.

With Jerami Grant and Kelly Olynyk sidelined by long-term injuries, the Pistons frontcourt is severely depleted with Trey Lyles and rookie Luka Garza as the main options.