Isaiah Stewart Nears Return to Pistons After Calf Injury

The 24-year-old center has been cleared for on-court activities as Detroit pushes for the playoffs.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:03pm

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Isaiah Stewart, the 24-year-old center for the Detroit Pistons, has been cleared to resume on-court basketball activities after missing more than two weeks due to a nagging calf injury. The team decided to temporarily shut him down to allow the injury to heal as they ramp up for the NBA playoffs, and he has a chance to see the floor before the regular season ends.

Why it matters

Stewart's return is crucial for the Pistons as they make a playoff push. The team is also awaiting the return of superstar guard Cade Cunningham, who has missed the last six games with a collapsed left lung. Getting both key players back healthy will be pivotal for Detroit's postseason aspirations.

The details

Stewart was set to miss his eighth straight game on Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the calf injury had been 'getting worse' and the team decided to temporarily shut Stewart down to allow the injury to fully heal. With eight games remaining after Saturday, there is a chance Stewart could see the floor before the regular season wraps up.

  • Stewart has missed more than two weeks of action for the Detroit Pistons.
  • Stewart was set to miss his eighth straight game on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
  • The Pistons have eight games remaining after Saturday's matchup against the Timberwolves.

The players

Isaiah Stewart

A 24-year-old center for the Detroit Pistons who has been sidelined with a nagging calf injury.

J.B. Bickerstaff

The head coach of the Detroit Pistons who discussed Stewart's injury and recovery timeline.

Cade Cunningham

The superstar guard for the Detroit Pistons who has also been sidelined, missing the last six games with a collapsed left lung.

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What they’re saying

“It's something that he's been dealing with. It just had been kinda getting worse. He gutted it out last game and you could see he was favoring it and he was hobbling around a little bit late in his minutes. It's something we're going to take time with. Those are things you don't want to mess around with. I can't give you a timeline because we'll always try to see how he responds. The most important thing for us is that he gets well, so we'll take our time and make sure that he's well.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Detroit Pistons

What’s next

The Pistons will continue to monitor Stewart's recovery and progress, with the goal of having him back on the court before the end of the regular season to help the team's playoff push.

The takeaway

Stewart's return from injury is crucial for the Pistons as they make a late-season playoff push. Along with the pending return of star guard Cade Cunningham, getting their key players healthy will be pivotal for Detroit's postseason aspirations.