Vince Ellis

Detroit Free Press

ATLANTA -- Reggie Jackson was standing on the Philips Arena floor this morning, a short distance from the walkway that leads toward the locker rooms. The Detroit Pistons point guard, who has missed the entire season while rehabbing his left knee, was asked the possibility of making his season debut Sunday, against the Orlando Magic at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

“We’ll see,” he said.

The Pistons’ leading scorer from last season declined to elaborate. But by leaving the door open, it shows that he is on the verge of returning.

“It’s pretty much him now,” Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. “It’s him saying he feels well enough to play. The medical people have cleared him.

“He’s gone 5-on-5, so it’s really a matter of his comfort level and when he want to give it a shot.”

After tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks (8, FSD), Saturday is a scheduled off day. But Van Gundy is considering a full practice, just to get Jackson more prepared.

“Trying to balance what he needs and what everybody else needs, getting home at 2:30, 3 in the morning or something like that,” Van Gundy said. “That’s the balance we’ve got to try to come to.”

Jackson said he would prefer to get in a full 5-on-5 practice before returning but didn’t say it was necessary. On Thursday’s off day, he had a spirited one-on-one session with rookie Michael Gbinije.

Bullock update: As Reggie Bullock (left knee meniscus tear) indicated Wednesday night, Van Gundy confirmed the swingman would have exploratory surgery Saturday in the Detroit area.

“We still don’t know what the recovery time will be,” Van Gundy said.

Note: The Pistons will collect toy donations at Palace entrances Sunday vs. the Magic and Dec. 11 vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.

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