Pistons' Duncan Robinson questionable for Game 6 with lower-back soreness

Duncan Robinson’s status for Detroit’s Game 6 against Cleveland remained uncertain on Thursday, when the Pistons listed the veteran wing as questionable with lower-back soreness. Robinson missed Game 5 on May 13, a loss that put Detroit behind 3-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinal series, according to the Detroit Free Press. The NBA’s game page for Friday’s matchup also listed Robinson as questionable. If he cannot play, Detroit would again be without a starter who had opened each of the team’s first 11 playoff games. ### How did Robinson’s status change before Game 6? Thursday’s injury report marked Robinson as questionable after he was ruled out for Game 5 with the same lower-back issue, according to NBA and team-linked injury listings. The Detroit Free Press reported that Robinson’s condition would be reevaluated before Friday’s game. (freep.com) May 13 was the first game Robinson had missed in Detroit’s postseason run. Before that absence, he had started all 11 playoff games, the Free Press reported. ### What did Detroit lose when Robinson sat out Game 5? Game 5 forced Detroit to play without one of its regular starters as Cleveland moved ahead in the series with a home win on Wednesday. (freep.com) The Free Press reported the Pistons lost that game after Robinson was unavailable because of back soreness. Robinson has been part of Detroit’s opening group throughout the playoffs, and his recent production included 19 points in Game 1 against Cleveland and 15 points in Game 3, according to his NBA player page. (freep.com) Those numbers do not settle how much Detroit misses him, but they show he had been a rotation regular with scoring volume in the series. ### Who else is on Detroit’s injury report? (freep.com) The NBA game page for Friday’s contest listed two other Pistons as questionable alongside Robinson: Caris LeVert with a right heel contusion and Kevin Huerter with a left adductor strain. That left Detroit monitoring the availability of three perimeter players ahead of an elimination game. The NBA’s official injury-report rules require teams to designate a participation status and identify a specific injury by 5 p.m. local time the day before a game, except in certain back-to-back situations. (nba.com) Those reports can still change closer to tipoff. ### Why is Friday’s game the next checkpoint? Friday’s game in Cleveland is Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, and Detroit entered it trailing 3-2 after the Game 5 loss. (nba.com) NBA.com’s game page identified May 15 as the next scheduled meeting between the teams. Cleveland’s home floor will be the site of the next update on Robinson’s condition because the Pistons are expected to make final availability decisions closer to game time. (official.nba.com) The Free Press said Robinson’s status would be reevaluated before the matchup. ### Where can fans check for the final designation? (nba.com) NBA.com’s official game page for Detroit versus Cleveland carries the injury designations for both teams and reflected Robinson as questionable on Thursday. The league’s injury-report page also outlines when teams must publish those statuses. Friday, May 15 is the next concrete date in the story: Detroit and Cleveland are scheduled to play Game 6, and Robinson’s availability is expected to be determined before tipoff in Cleveland. (freep.com) (nba.com)