Pistons' Jaden Ivey feeling grateful as he plays for first time in over 10 1/2 months

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey made his long-awaited return Saturday night feeling hopeful that everything he’s endured this year will make him a stronger player moving forward.

Ivey played for the first time since breaking his left fibula over 10 1/2 months ago as the Pistons beat the Milwaukee Bucks 129-116 on Sunday for their 12th consecutive victory.

“Obviously, everyone goes through trials in life,” Ivey said. “This was needed for me to boost my patience and my perseverance. Lord willing, I don’t go through another trial like this, but if I do, it’s definitely going to help me.”

Saturday marked Ivey’s first game action since Jan. 1, when he and Cole Anthony collided while pursuing a loose ball during a 105-96 Pistons victory over the Orlando Magic. As the two of them chased the ball, Anthony’s momentum carried him into Ivey’s planted leg, knocking the Detroit guard to the floor.

Ivey underwent surgery the next day.

He was cleared without restrictions for training camp, then had a setback when he underwent arthroscopic surgery in mid-October to relieve discomfort in his right knee. The Pistons said this issue was unrelated to his fibula surgery.

No wonder it took some time for Ivey to get his bearings when he finally got back on the floor Saturday. He ended up scoring 10 points in 15 minutes off the bench.

“Going into it, I was kind of just trying to get my mind wrapped around it just because it’s been so long,” Ivey said. “It took a while for me to get used to it, get used to warming up and just going through the normal routine again. But I just had so much gratitude to be out there again.”

His teammates and coaches felt grateful as well.

“It’s like seeing him in his natural state — having the jersey on, playing, being on the court,” All-Star guard Cade Cunningham said. “It’s like seeing him at home. And he looked good today. I thought he looked really comfortable. It doesn’t look like he’s missed as much time as he has. It’s a credit to his work and how much time he’s put into it.”

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the team planned to give him about 15 minutes of playing time to ease the 23-year-old back in.

“We’re just happy to have him back,” Bickerstaff said. “That’s the most important thing. For him to have that joy in competition and competing with his teammates, that was the most important thing for him out there. Obviously you see the way that he can impact a game at a high level. In 15 minutes, it’s hard to catch a rhythm sometimes, but I thought he did all the things we needed him to do. This is just more a celebration of his journey to get back out on the court.”

The timing of Ivey’s injury was particularly inconvenient because he was having his most productive season since Detroit selected the former Purdue star with the fifth pick in the 2022 draft.

Ivey was averaging 17.6 points and 4.1 rebounds — both career highs — while averaging four assists in 30 games last season. He also was shooting 46% overall and 40.9% from 3-point range, both career bests.

He now returns to a team that has come a long way since he was last on the floor.

Detroit was still below .500 at the time of Ivey’s injury after going a combined 31-133 in Ivey’s first two seasons. The Pistons surged without Ivey and earned their first playoff berth since 2019.

The Pistons (14-2) have raised their level significantly higher this year and have the Eastern Conference’s best record.

A 13th consecutive victory Monday at Indiana would match a franchise record for their longest winning streak. Detroit won 13 straight in 1989-90 and 2003-04 on its way to winning NBA titles both seasons.

“When I last played, it was so different,” Ivey said. “I feel like we’ve found it as a team, the niche with the team and just the connecting with the guys. We’ve found it. Just going out there again, I think it was trying to understand and feel my way back into it.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Detroit Pistons' Jaden Ivey shoots in front of Milwaukee Bucks' AJ Green and Jericho Sims during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' AJ Green tries to stop Detroit Pistons' Jaden Ivey during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Detroit Pistons' Jaden Ivey shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

In the past week, many Americans remained focused on the economy, inflation and how those forces could impact their lives. Trips to the grocery store or gas station are more painful than they were last year, and that is impacting the decisions of both households and businesses.

Here’s a snapshot of prominent economic data and news that occurred over the past week and what it potentially means for you.

America’s employers delivered a surprising 115,000 new jobs last month despite an economic shock from the Iran war.

Hiring was better than the 65,000 forecasters had expected, though it decelerated from the 185,000 jobs created in March. The unemployment rate remained at a low 4.3%, the Labor Department reported Friday.

Healthcare added 37,000 jobs last month and retailers 22,000. However, manufacturers cut 2,000 jobs in April and have shed 66,000 jobs over the past year despite President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies aimed at creating factory jobs.

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose again this week, reflecting ongoing bond market volatility as surging oil prices due to the war with Iran heighten inflation worries.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.37% from 6.3% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. That’s still down from one year ago, when the rate averaged 6.76%.

This is the second straight weekly increase, bringing the average rate back to where it was four weeks ago.

Weekly U.S. jobless claim applications rose last week but remain at historically low levels despite elevated inflation and other economic headwinds.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits in the week ending May 2 rose by 10,000 to 200,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s fewer than the 205,000 new applications analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet were expecting.

The previous week’s new claims figure, which was the fewest since 1969, was revised up by 1,000 to 190,000.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

U.S. job openings were essentially unchanged in March but hiring improved before the full impact of the Iran war hit the economy.

Employers posted 6.87 million jobs in March, compared to 6.92 million in February, the Labor Department reported Tuesday.

The job market has been up and down so far this year after a dismal 2025. And the Iran war, which began Feb. 28, has clouded the outlook for the economy and hiring.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey showed that layoffs rose in March. But hiring improved: Employers added 5.55 million gross jobs, the most since February 2024. More Americans also quit their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects.

U.S. stocks rose toward new highs to end the week on promising news in the labor market and also more strong earnings for major U.S. corporations.

The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% toward an all-time high after a report said U.S. employers added 115,000 more jobs than they cut last month, even though the war with Iran is raising fuel costs and uncertainty for everyone.

While hiring slowed from March’s level, it was nevertheless nearly double what economists expected. And it kept the S&P 500 on track for a sixth straight winning week, which would be its longest such streak since 2024. The U.S. stock market has blasted higher since late March, in part on hopes that the war will not mean a worst-case scenario for the global economy and that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen to allow oil tankers to deliver crude from the Persian Gulf again.

Trader Edward McCarthy, left, and Michael Milano work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

FILE - The per-gallon price is displayed elecronically over the grades of gasoline available at a Buc-ee's convenience stop Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Johnstown, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)

FILE - Hiring sign for sales professionals is displayed at a store, in Vernon Hills, Ill., Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, file)