The Detroit Pistons head into Sunday night’s meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers still dealing with some early-season absences, but the matchup itself carries enough intrigue on its own. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, and the game will air locally on TV20 Detroit, which is available free over the air in the Detroit market. Streaming options include Fubo and DAZN.
Philadelphia is not at full strength either. On the second night of a back-to-back, the Sixers will be without Joel Embiid, who played Saturday. Embiid also missed all four games against Detroit last season, when the Pistons swept the season series.
Detroit’s injury list includes Jalen Duren, who has been ruled out with a right hamstring strain. Ausar Thompson is questionable because of a right ankle sprain.
Both players were hurt Friday in Miami, when the Pistons opened a tough three-game road trip with a 128-111 win. Detroit’s offense caught fire in that one, drilling 18 3-pointers to match last season’s high.
John Collins and Duncan Robinson each connected on five triples.
This is the first of only three games between the Pistons and Sixers this season. The teams meet again Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. in Detroit on ESPN, and the final matchup comes Feb. 5 in Philadelphia.
Detroit’s road trip continues after this with a Tuesday night visit to the defending champion New York Knicks.
For fans looking ahead, the Pistons’ next three games are Tuesday at New York, Wednesday at home against Charlotte, and Friday at Brooklyn. The Knicks game is an NBA Cup group game. The Hornets and Nets games will both be carried locally on TV20 Detroit and streamed on DAZN.
In Other News...
Pistons Face A Tough Stretch Without Jalen Duren
The Pistons are bracing for a short-handed stretch in the middle of the season after Jalen Duren went down with a right hamstring strain in the game against the Miami Heat. Detroit expects the young center to miss at least two weeks before the team takes another look at his condition, a setback that comes at a spot where his size and energy have become important to the rotation.
John Collins and Paul Reed are in line to handle the center minutes while Duren is out, giving the Pistons a different look in the frontcourt for now. How well that tandem holds up could shape how smoothly Detroit gets through the next stretch, especially with Duren's timeline still needing another evaluation before a clearer return date comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Suddenly Face An Early Test After Jalen Duren Setback
The Pistons fast start has already run into an early reality check. After opening the season with two wins, Detroit now has to manage at least the next two weeks without Jalen Duren, who is expected to sit with a right hamstring strain he suffered against the Miami Heat.
Duren had just locked in his place as a franchise cornerstone with a five-year, $200 million extension after a breakout regular season, so his absence lands as more than a routine injury note. Paul Reed has already taken on a larger role in Durens absence, and coach JB Bickerstaff is now sorting through lineup options while the Pistons try to keep their momentum intact. [Read more 🡒]
Cade Cunninghams Biggest Value For Detroit Is Suddenly Hard To Ignore
Cade Cunninghams box score against Miami was the kind that underscored how much more he can do than just initiate offense. He finished with 16 points on eight shot attempts, added eight assists and piled up seven turnovers, but the numbers only told part of the story. Even in a quieter scoring night, he still found ways to swing the game on the defensive end with a steal and three blocks.
With Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren dealing with injuries, Detroit may need Cunningham to carry more than the usual burden in the next stretch. The Pistons have leaned on his playmaking all season, but what stood out in this one was how much his two-way impact could matter when the roster gets thinner. If the offense isn't always smooth, there is at least a growing case that his value to this team can show up in far more than one area. [Read more 🡒]