The Detroit Pistons are already down one key player in point guard Reggie Jackson, who will be out several weeks as heals up from a serious ankle sprain. The Pistons are hoping they won’t be down another one tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers (7 ET, NBA League Pass).

Center Andre Drummond is recovering from bruised ribs and is listed as questionable for tonight’s game. Given the showdowns and war of words he and Sixers center Joel Embiid have exchanged through social media, Drummond may have more motivation to play tonight. Regardless of that though, writes Rod Beard of The Detroit News, Drummond’s return is being termed a pain-tolerance issue:

Drummond, who is recovering from bruised ribs, missed Wednesday’s loss against the Miami Heatand whether he returns Friday for the third showdown with Joel Embiid in Philadelphia on Friday is in doubt. Drummond sustained the injury this week in practice and didn’t work out on Wednesday or Thursday.

The tricky thing about bruised ribs is that there’s no reliable way to measure the amount of pain Drummond is in — or when he’ll return to the lineup.

“It’s is a pain-tolerance thing. Everybody has had them,” coach Stan Van Gundy said after Thursday’s practice in Miami. “It’s hard to breathe and hard to move. Whenever he’s comfortable enough to go, he’ll go. It’s a painful injury, no question.”

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“There’s no doctor telling him he has to sit out; it’s whatever he can tolerate,” Van Gundy said Wednesday.