Via ESPN:

MIAMI — Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton will miss the team’s season-opener at Miami on Thursday because of a family emergency and rookie Arron Afflalo was expected to start in his place.

Hamilton could rejoin the Pistons in Orlando on Friday, coach Flip Saunders said.

I hope everything is ok.

No Stuckey, no Amir Johnson, now no Rip. I’m surprised Afflalo is getting the start over Flip Murray.

UPDATE: Via Detroit Free Press:

Pistons shooting guard Richard Hamilton is out for tonight’s season opener against the Miami Heat. He’s attending to a family emergency.

I don’t know much about the nature of that emergency besides that it’s not a death, so that’s good news. He is expected to rejoin the team Friday in Orlando.

In the meantime, rookie Arron Afflalo gets to be the fifth starter. Coach Flip Saunders said he wanted to go with Afflalo instead of guard Flip Murray to keep some scoring and veteran play coming off the bench.Also, Afflalo should have an easier time playing alongside four veterans. That will balance out the pressure of getting your first NBA start and your first NBA minutes all in the same night.

Saunders said he might not even tell the guard until closer to game time. We reporters didn’t really let that happen. Finding Arron in the locker room, told him the news and he looked at us at first like, “Huh?”

But Afflalo took the news in stride. Afflalo said the news won’t change his focus.

“I’m excited to play, ready to get out there and have fun,” Afflalo said. “Get a win.”