Reggie Jackson starts for Detroit Pistons vs. Phoenix Suns

Update: Reggie Jackson scored seven points in 15 minutes in his return.

Reggie Jackson said it’s time.

And the Detroit Pistons training staff agrees.

The Pistons’ starting point guard returned to the lineup Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns after missing 37 games with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain.

He will play the first 3-4 minutes of each quarter.

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It likely comes too late for the Pistons (31-39) to salvage a playoff spot. They are six games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot with 12 games remaining.

But after a 4-on-4, full-court session Sunday at the University of Portland and no ill effects the following day, Jackson said he is ready.

“I’m happy to go play basketball,” he said in the visitor’s locker room at Walking Stick Resort Arena on Tuesday. "I’m happy to get out there and see how it feels.

“Felt like it was time to get back out here with my team.”

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The Pistons were 19-14 when Jackson injured his ankle on Dec. 26. The team struggled to a 12-25 record since. They are 8-13 since the addition of Blake Griffin.

But don’t expect a savior.

“I probably wish I was healthier and wish I had a lot more minutes,” Jackson said. “I’m not going to try to force anything and just go out here and play basketball with the time that I’m allotted to play.”

Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said Jackson gets the start Tuesday because he wants Jackson and Griffin to become comfortable with each other.

“It’s good to have him back out there,” Van Gundy said. “As a coach, the minute limitations are always difficult to deal with because then your rotations become very artificial and it doesn’t have anything to do with what’s going on in the games.”

This is the second straight season Jackson has had his season impacted by injury. He missed the first 21 games last season after a procedure to treat left knee tendinitis.

Jackson, who turns 28 in April, is averaging 14.6 points and 5.5 assists in 27 minutes over 33 games this season.

He is in the third year of a 5-year deal, worth $80 million.

Ish Smith had filled in for Jackson in the starting lineup, with Dwight Buycks serving as the backup.

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