EDITOR’S NOTE: The Pistons’ Thursday home game against the Knicks was incomplete at press time for this edition. Go to TheOaklandPress.com and RoyalOakTribune.com for the full game story.

DETROIT >> Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey hasn’t played since Jan. 1, but he could be making his way toward a comeback this season.

Make that the postseason.

Ivey, who sustained a broken left fibula in a game against the Orlando Magic, has been cleared for basketball activities and can begin progressing in his reconditioning toward a potential return to the court. The Pistons announced a medical update on Thursday, ahead of their game against the New York Knicks at Little Caesars Arena.

The possibility of Ivey’s return is becoming increasingly likely. However, the Pistons’ medical update comes just days after coach J.B. Bickerstaff emphasized the importance of Ivey’s safety.

“It’s his safety first, and that is the most important thing,” Bickerstaff said on Saturday. “We will take our time. We will not put him in a position where we feel it is forced or rushed, where something even worse could happen.”

Ivey sustained the broken left fibula when Orlando’s Cole Anthony drove into his left leg early in the fourth quarter of the Pistons’ win. Ivey immediately tumbled to the floor in pain and was unable to walk. Ivey was wheeled off the court and had surgery at Henry Ford Hospital the next day.

Since then, he has progressed quickly through his rehab process while making appearances after every milestone. Two weeks after running sprints at the Henry Ford Performance Center, Ivey joined the Pistons on their first road trip since the injury.

He took part in an on-court workout following the team shootaround ahead of their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on April 2. However, watching the team’s success during his absence has greatly motivated him to attempt a practical return.

“We are having a blessed year,” Ivey said on March 13. “Everyone is thriving. You can see the juice that we have as a unit. We are playing together. We are playing great ball right now. … I want to be out there so bad. I am putting in the work to get back. Just seeing those guys go out there and compete hard — all I want to do is compete and play the game of basketball. It’s encouraging and exciting to see.”

The Pistons have gone 28-18 during Ivey’s absence, which places them 11th in the league during that span. Detroit’s success has led to the team clinching the postseason for the first time since 2019. Although he didn’t play, Ivey participated in the Pistons’ post-game celebration following their road victory over the Toronto Raptors Friday night at Scotiabank Arena.

While Detroit has managed to stay afloat without its third-year guard, Ivey’s talent is still a valuable part of the Pistons’ core. At the time of his injury, Ivey was in the middle of a career year, averaging 17.6 points on 46% shooting, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists through 30 games.

Ivey’s biggest improvements came in his 3-point shooting, which was a career-best 40.9%. In the win against the Magic, Ivey had one of his best performances of the season, with 22 points with six made triples. He was one of three players who worked consistently with assistant coach Fred Vinson since training camp, joining Ron Holland II and Ausar Thompson.

“I feel like I’ve improved,” Ivey said. “Once we made changes throughout the organization, getting Fred and Bickerstaff. The things that we have talked about were improvements. I made those improvements with my 3-point shot so I could shoot 40%. That is something I have always wanted to work on. To play alongside an All-Star in Cade (Cunningham), you have to be able to play and put the ball in the hoop.”

For what it’s worth, the Pistons have three games remaining in the regular season and will have a first-round playoff series that likely will begin next weekend. Ivey’s status will be updated in two weeks, which could line up for a potential return toward the end of the seven-game series.

Possibly.

The Pistons will likely be careful about putting too much on Ivey’s plate, at least initially. But his return could provide a boost as the Pistons play in their first playoff series since 2018-19.

“I am looking forward to being healthy and being back out there with the guys again,” Ivey said. “I know it’s going to be soon. I believe the return will be great.”