Brandon Jennings will miss time because of wisdom tooth

Vince Ellis | USA TODAY Sports

Tuesday yielded yet another odd setback for the Detroit Pistons' backcourt.

The team announced that point guard Brandon Jennings will be out at least three weeks because of an impacted wisdom tooth and hairline fracture of the jawbone at the base of the tooth.

The news comes a few days after the team learned that Rodney Stuckey would be out indefinitely with a broken right thumb suffered when he caught his hand in the door jamb of his vehicle.

If he misses three weeks, Jennings could return to the lineup Nov. 8, when the Oklahoma City Thunder visits the Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Pistons remain hopeful about Stuckey, but he could miss the regular-season opener Oct. 30 against the Washington Wizards — and maybe even more games.

So the door is open for Chauncey Billups, Will Bynum and even rookie Peyton Siva in the quest to earn playing time at point guard.

"This is the NBA, and in the NBA, people get hurt," Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks said after today's practice. "If you're not ready when your time comes around, shame on you.

"That's the reason you have 15 guys on your team, so (if) someone gets hurt, someone can step in there and play and maybe take advantage of it. Hopefully, they will take advantage of it ... and we can keep on going."

The Pistons have been without Jennings and Stuckey the last two exhibition games, so the experimentation already is under way. Bynum and Kyle Singler have started the last two games in the backcourt, although Cheeks declined to say who would start against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.

The availability of Billups, 37, who was signed in the off-season to provide leadership and experience, probably eases Cheeks' worries. Billups has missed the last two games, but Cheeks said that he expects Billups to play Wednesday and maybe Thursday, at Cleveland.

"For him, on the court and off the court, he's such a valuable asset to us, because he gives us that experience," Cheeks said. "The ability to have him come and play becomes great with having guys out.

"You go into camp with five healthy guards back there and, all of a sudden, you have three. But preseason is the best time for these things to happen and, hopefully, we can plug guys. … Things are going to happen during the regular season, also. When they happen, you just have to keep on moving because no one is going to feel sorry for you."

A Monday examination revealed the reason for Jennings' tooth pain. Treatment will include immobilization for three weeks. He will be re-evaluated at that time.

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Vince Ellis writes for the Detroit Free Press