Pistons star Blake Griffin to start in Game 3 vs. Bucks

In a 2-0 hole in their first round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Detroit Pistons will receive a much-needed jolt in Game 3 as the series shifts to the Motor City.

Griffin, who has been out since the second-to-last game of the regular season with a left knee injury, will be active on Saturday and start.

Griffin warmed up prior to Saturday’s game, with his left knee wrapped.

Milwaukee, the No. 1 seed in the East, handled Detroit easily in each of the first two games, winning by 35 and 21 points, respectively. A league source told Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill earlier this week that there was a “slim chance” Griffin would play this weekend.

Griffin’s late-season injury was an unfortunate blow for a Pistons team that needs to be healthy if it has any shot at upsetting the Bucks in their second playoff appearance in a decade. Griffin is their top player, coming off an All-Star regular season campaign in which he averaged 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.

Griffin said after a 121-86 loss in Game 1 that he would have played, if it was his call.

“If it was pain, I would easily play with pain,” Griffin said to the Detroit Free Press. “If it was just my decision, I would have played.”

It appears that, with his team on the ropes, Griffin is ready to suit up and try to get the Pistons back in this series.

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