Pistons’ Reggie Jackson begins basketball activities Monday

Auburn Hills — Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy got some encouraging news before the West Coast trip, which begins Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Point guard Reggie Jackson, who has missed the last month after having treatment for tendinitis in his left knee, will begin basketball activities Monday. The original timeline for Jackson’s recovery was 6-8 weeks, so Jackson appears to be on schedule, but it’ll depend on how he reacts to putting more stress on the knee.

“Monday is four weeks and he will be able to start doing activities, start running a little bit and start back to activity, then it’s a ramp-up from there,” Van Gundy said Sunday.

Jackson, the Pistons’ leading scorer last season, has missed all six games and likely will be out another couple weeks before he can rejoin the team. He had the same injury in 2011 and said the timetable was about the same, so it appears he’ll be able to return later this month.

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Jackson will make the team’s West Coast trip this week and will continue to work with the training staff to strengthen the knee and look to progress in workouts.

Ish Smith has played well at point guard in Jackson’s absence.

“It’s a ramp-up; he’s not going to be starting Day 1 with doing a ton of stuff,” Van Gundy said. “He will be able to start doing stuff other than walking.”

Rod.Beard@detroitnews.com

Twitter @detnewsRodBeard