DETROIT — In a distressing turn of events, Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey suffered a broken leg during the fourth quarter of a closely contested game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. The injury occurred when Orlando’s Cole Anthony lost his footing and collided with Ivey, who was forced to the floor in visible agony.

The incident unfolded with approximately 10:07 remaining in the game, as Anthony dove for a loose ball, inadvertently causing the injury. Ivey, who had been performing strongly with 22 points in the game, immediately clutched his lower left leg, prompting immediate attention from the Pistons' medical staff. A harrowing atmosphere enveloped the arena as teammates and personnel formed a protective circle around the injured player, rendering support in genuine concern.

Following a significant delay in play, Ivey was carried off the court on a stretcher, covered with a towel to shield the injury from the crowd's view. "It’s tough on all of us," said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who commended Ivey's character as a teammate, stating, "No better person or teammate than J.I. and no one cares more about this than he does."

While the Pistons secured a 105-96 victory, thoughts quickly turned to the severity of Ivey's injury. ESPN later reported that he had indeed broken his leg, as confirmed by Ivey himself in a social media post, promising fans, "I promise to come back even better. The recovery starts now #DetroitBasketball."

Ivey, 22, was drafted fifth overall in 2022 and has shown remarkable talent this season, averaging 17.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. His absence now poses significant challenges for the team, which might need to reshuffle its roster to compensate for the loss of one of its top players.

Pistons fans and players alike expressed their concern and support for Ivey during this difficult time, hoping for a swift recovery for their star guard.

For further updates on Ivey and the Pistons, visit AP NBA.