The Detroit Pistons are back home looking to steady themselves after a 121-116 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and there were at least a couple of encouraging signs buried in that defeat. Kevin Huerter and Daniss Jenkins gave Detroit a huge lift off the bench, combining for 55 points on 18-of-31 shooting.
Now Cade Cunningham gets another chance to lead the way against a Washington Wizards team that comes in at 4-6. The two clubs already saw each other in the preseason, when Washington came away with a 114-108 overtime win.
The Wizards have a mix of young talent and veteran names that makes them a tricky matchup. Their roster includes Trae Young, AJ Dybansta, Anthony Davis, and Alex Sarr, and Sarr has been one of the early storylines of the season. In his first six games, the number one overall pick has averaged 16 points while shooting 43% from the field.
Young remains one of the league’s most dangerous playmakers. He’s averaging 18 points and ranks second in the NBA with nine assists per game, though he had a rough night in Washington’s last game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, finishing with four points on 1-6 shooting.
Davis is listed as questionable for tonight, but he has been excellent to open the season with his new team. He leads the Wizards in points at 23.4 per game, rebounds at 9.2 and steals at 1.4. Detroit is going to have to match the energy of a team that plays with size, speed and plenty of confidence.
For the Pistons, Paul Reed is one player who needs to bring more. Against the Lakers, he posted eight points and 10 rebounds, but he only took eight shots. Detroit needs him to be efficient around the rim and active on the glass.
John Collins is another key piece who has to give more. He finished with eight points and four rebounds in the loss to Los Angeles, going 3-for-7 from the field.
Both Reed and Collins will be under the microscope against a Washington team that will be eager to respond after a 114-75 loss. The Pistons host the first of two straight meetings with the Wizards at 7:00 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena.
In Other News...
Jalen Duren Update Gives Pistons Hope With One Big Catch
Jalen Duren is finally back on the court in some capacity, which is a welcome development for a Pistons team that has been waiting on its young center since he strained his right hamstring in the Oct. 23 game. Detroit says Duren has moved into on-court activities as part of his rehab, and the early signs are encouraging enough to include dribbling and shooting work as he builds back toward full basketball activity.
The catch, of course, is that this is still only a step in the process, not a return date. The Pistons have already said they will give another update in two weeks, leaving the next checkpoint as the one that matters most for a team that could use Durens size, energy and interior presence back in the rotation as soon as it is safely possible. [Read more 🡒]
Ausar Thompson Is Giving The Pistons A Tough Rotation Decision
Ausar Thompsons work on the glass has become one of the more intriguing developments in Detroits rotation as the Pistons continue to sort out how they want to play. Against the 76ers, he grabbed 17 rebounds and helped keep the team competitive on the boards even with Jalen Duren out, a reminder that Thompsons athleticism is showing up in ways that matter beyond the box score.
The bigger question for the Pistons is how that skill fits once the roster is whole again. Thompson is averaging a career-high 8.6 rebounds per game, and his presence is giving Detroit a real argument for using more smaller lineups without giving up too much interior toughness. With the team trying to balance added shooting and better spacing against the need to hold up inside, Thompsons rise has made the rotation picture a little more complicated than it looked a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Waste A Winnable Night Against A Luka-Less Lakers Team
The Pistons had a chance to bank a useful home win against a Lakers team missing Luka Doncic, and for stretches they looked capable of taking it. Daniss Jenkins and Kevin Huerter gave Detroit a lift off the bench, but the night never fully turned in the Pistons favor as the starting group had trouble finding a rhythm on offense.
Austin Reaves made sure Los Angeles did not waste the opening, pouring in 43 points to carry the Lakers to a 121-116 win. For Detroit, the frustration is less about one bad quarter than the broader pattern of letting a winnable game slip away when the matchup seemed there to be seized. [Read more 🡒]