The Detroit Pistons finished preseason the right way Friday night, edging the Toronto Raptors 129-125 at Little Caesars Arena, and now the real test arrives Tuesday afternoon when they open the 2026-27 season against the Boston Celtics.
Detroit enters the new year carrying plenty of confidence, but also plenty of attention. Cade Cunningham and the Pistons are back in a familiar spot: underestimated in an Eastern Conference that has improved around them. They already showed they can turn that into fuel last season, when they shocked a lot of people by finishing with the No. 1 seed and 60 wins.
Now comes the next round of questions. And for this team, they start with what has to improve, who has to deliver, and which new faces can help push them forward.
The biggest swing factor may be the three-point shot. Detroit had trouble finding consistency from deep a year ago, and that showed up in the seven-game loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
This offseason, the Pistons added former Oklahoma City guard Isaiah Joe and Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins, two players who both shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc last season. Put them alongside Duncan Robinson, Detroit’s top three-point shooter, and the Pistons suddenly have a much better chance to take a meaningful step in that area.
Jalen Duren is another major piece to watch. The center begins the season after signing a five-year, $200 million contract, and the expectation now rises with the price tag.
Duren had a strong regular season, earning All-Star honors with Cunningham while averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. He struggled in the postseason, but he looked sharp in the preseason, putting up 38 points and six rebounds while shooting over 70 percent from the field in two games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Toronto Raptors.
If he can carry that into Tuesday’s opener, it would go a long way toward settling nerves about what kind of impact he can provide.
Then there’s Collins, the most notable addition from Detroit’s offseason work. The Pistons signed him to a three-year, $51 million deal in July after he posted 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game with the Clippers last season.
He is expected to step into the role Tobias Harris occupied in the starting lineup before Harris left to join the San Antonio Spurs on a two-year, $31 million contract. Collins gives Detroit size, rebounding, and floor spacing, and he can also play center.
His defense is still a question, though the Pistons are counting on his toughness and versatility to show up right away. Based on the preseason, he could end up playing more minutes than many expected to start the year.
In Other News...
Pistons Rookie Just Made JB Bickerstaffs Rotation Decision Harder
The Pistons wrapped up the preseason with a win over Torontos backups, and the final tune-up offered one more reminder that the back end of the roster has become a real competition. Ausar Thompson continued to flash on offense, but it was rookie Ebuka Okorie who drew the attention with a 14-point burst in just nine minutes, the kind of quick-hit scoring that can change how a staff thinks about its guard depth.
Daniss Jenkins still looks like the likely opening-night backup point guard, but performances like this make the discussion a little less settled than it seemed a week ago. Okorie showed enough offensive juice to at least make JB Bickerstaff keep him in the conversation, especially if the Pistons want more creation from that spot early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Flashed Real Progress But One Problem Still Stood Out
The Pistons ended their preseason on a positive note with a 129-125 win over the Raptors, and there was enough in it to suggest the offense is starting to come together. Cade Cunningham led the way with 18 points and seven assists, while Jalen Duren added 14 points and looked sharper after missing earlier preseason games during contract negotiations. Detroits shooting and spacing both stood out, two signs that the group is beginning to look more comfortable in its new shape.
Still, the final preseason tune-up also underlined the issue that can undo all that progress if it lingers. Toronto put up 45 points in the fourth quarter, and the Pistons were called for 35 personal fouls, a reminder that the defensive end is still lagging behind the offense. The talent is there for Detroit to take a step forward, but the margin for error stays thin until the stop-the-ball issues clean up. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Rotation Battle Is Already Creating Pressure On One Newcomer
The Pistons are still sorting out their rotation with the regular season approaching, and the competition is already tightening in the backcourt. John Collins has helped himself by playing efficiently and showing real chemistry with Cade Cunningham, while Jalen Durens strong preseason and new five-year deal have only reinforced how central he is to Detroits plans.
Kevin Huerter, meanwhile, is the newcomer feeling the squeeze. Detroit has a crowded shooting guard mix with Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Joe also in the picture, and that leaves Huerter fighting for a clear lane to consistent minutes as the staff weighs fit, spacing and trust before the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]