Pistons' Stuckey will be monitored in return

Mar 19, 2010 - 10:31 PM INDIANAPOLIS(AP) -- Detroit guard Rodney Stuckey is eager to start playing basketball again.

He'd just rather not talk about anything else.

Stuckey was expected to return to action Friday night in Indiana, his first game action since collapsing on the bench two weeks ago.

"I'll play a little bit tonight just to see where I'm at," Stuckey said before the game. "I just don't like talking about it. That's just how it is. That's just how I am. I mean it happened, it's over."

The Pistons aren't just going to move on, though.

No, Stuckey will not be subject to any limitations on playing time coach John Kuester said before the game, but the team will try to help Stuckey ease his way back into playing shape.

"He's a full-go, but it's a situation that when he comes off the bench we're going to monitor him," Kuester said. "He hasn't played full bore for two weeks, so your wind is going to be a little different."

Doctors cleared Stuckey for exercise last week after extensive cardiac tests. Last season, Stuckey missed two games after experiencing dizziness.

His return adds another body to the Pistons' rotation, something that should help the Pistons as they try to snap a three-game losing streak. The Pistons have won just two of their past 12 games.

Stuckey is Detroit's second-leading scorer with 17.1 points per game.

He's not the only player expected to return Friday night.

The Pacers are expected to have All-Star forward Danny Granger back in the starting lineup, just two days after the team announced he would be out indefinitely after taking a shot to his upper right cheek in Tuesday night against Charlotte.

Granger, Indiana's top scorer at 23.1 points, missed Wednesday night's game in Cleveland.

"He's ready to go, he sure is," coach Jim O'Brien told reporters before the game.