Overview
- Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena, with TV on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit and streaming on NBA League Pass.
- Detroit is 17-5 and atop the East after dropping three of its last five, including the four-point defeat in Milwaukee.
- Coach J. B. Bickerstaff pointed to defensive breakdowns and stagnation against a zone as the Pistons scored only eight fast-break points after leading by 18.
- Portland is 9-13 but comes in off a 122-110 win in Cleveland, with Deni Avdija on a 30-10-10 four-game pace and bench boosts from Shaedon Sharpe and Caleb Love.
- Injuries loom large: Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday are out for Portland, Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III are questionable, and Detroit lists Duncan Robinson, Marcus Sasser and Bobi Klintman out.