Pistons' Jennings available, but did not play vs. Heat

Vince Ellis | Detroit Free Press

MIAMI -- Eleven months after rupturing his left Achilles tendon, point guard Brandon Jennings was dressed and available tonight for the 16-12 Detroit Pistons.

But, as expected, his first NBA game action since Jan. 24 did not come against the Miami Heat.

Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy likes the way current backup Steve Blake is playing, and he thinks that Jennings has to clear a few more hurdles before assuming the spot behind Reggie Jackson.

Van Gundy also said before the Heat game that it’s unlikely that Jennings will play Wednesday night at the Atlanta Hawks nor Saturday against the visiting Boston Celtics. He did hint at a timetable.

He's “still got some work to do and he knows that,” Van Gundy said after this morning’s shootaround at American Airlines Arena. “If something comes up where we need a third guy, he’ll be our guy, and then he’s got practice on Thursday and then we’ll have two days of practice after the Boston game. So he’s got some time -- both to help get himself ready and to show us that he’s ready.”

That could put Jennings in line to get action at the New York Knicks next Tuesday.

Van Gundy also ruled out possibly playing Jennings in situations when he’s substituting offense for defense.

“He’d have to play defense too,” Van Gundy said. “We can’t do the football thing. ...

“It would be major foul trouble or injury on one of the point guards — that’s the only way he gets in.”

Notes: Heat point guard Goran Dragic has a swollen right thumb and did not play tonight. His absence left the Heat (16-10) with only Beno Udrih and Josh Richardson at the point. Tyler Johnson is out with a shoulder injury. ... Former Pistons Mark Aguirre and Allen Iverson, Pistons assistant coach Tim Hardaway, former Pistons general manager Jack McCloskey and ex-Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks are among the candidates for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2016.

Contact Vince Ellis at vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.