Blood clot sidelines Pistons rookie Thompson for rest of NBA season

Thompson (right), shown here defending against Indiana forward Pascal Siakam, was the fifth overall selection in last year’s draft. He has missed the Pistons’ last five games because of illness, initially described as asthma. FILE PHOTO/Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports via REUTERS

The Detroit Pistons will be without first-round draft pick Ausar Thompson for the rest of the season as he continues treatment for a blood clot, the NBA team said Wednesday.

The Pistons said in a statement the 21-year-old has been cleared to resume conditioning “and will begin non-contact basketball activities at the conclusion of the regular season with a gradual ramp up over the summer months in preparation for a full return next season.”

Thompson, the fifth overall selection in last year’s draft, had missed the Pistons’ last five games because of illness, initially described as asthma.

In his rookie season he averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds. 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game over 63 games.

It wasn’t the only bad news Wednesday for the Pistons, who said center Isaiah Stewart will miss the remainder of the season with a right hamstring strain.

Stewart was injured in the third quarter of Detroit’s 119-94 loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday. — Agence France-Presse