Luke Kennard to miss at least two weeks with knee tendonitis

The Pistons backcourt rotation has already been hit hard by injury this season, and the hits keep coming. Starting shooting guard Luke Kennard will miss at least the next two weeks due to knee tendonitis.

Kennard had already missed several games due to his knee issues and will be shut down for a short term to hopefully get him back to health.

After a scorching start where 18.9 points per game, Kennard had fallen to just 13.4 points per game since November 15. That also coincided with Blake Griffin’s return to full time(ish) usage, so it’s tough to say if Luke had fallen back into a deferential role or was impacted by injury.

Kennard joins Reggie Jackson as a fellow backcourt starter to the injury report, and Bruce Brown also missed the team’s last game due to a calf injury. Khyrie Thomas is also out long-term due foot surgery.

Langston Galloway likely takes Kennard’s spot in the starting lineup, but from there the rotation gets quite thin. Unless Brown is back to health, Svi Mykhailiuk may need to spend some time at shooting guard - not his ideal position, but it will be helpful to see more of the 22 year old.

The absence comes at a rough time for the Pistons schedule (that is, if you’re still holding out hopes for the playoffs this season). The Pistons tip off in a winnable game against the Wizards tonight, but then take off for a six game road trip.

Hopefully the rest is enough to get Kennard back to full strength and back to what was otherwise a breakout season for the third year player.