Pistons vs. Warriors: What to Watch as Detroit Heads to San Francisco for Friday Night Showdown
The Detroit Pistons are back under the national spotlight Friday night, squaring off against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. Tip-off is set for 10 p.m.
ET, with ESPN carrying the broadcast and local coverage available on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit. Fans can also stream the game via ESPN+ or Fubo.
This one comes on the second night of a back-to-back for the Pistons, who are trying to bounce back from a tough 114-96 loss in Phoenix. That game saw Detroit struggle mightily from beyond the arc and get lit up by Dillon Brooks, who dropped 40 points on them. Three-point shooting has been a persistent issue for this group all season, and against a team like Golden State, that’s a dangerous weakness to carry into Chase Center.
Injury Watch: Cade Close to Return, LeVert Still Out
There’s some cautious optimism surrounding Cade Cunningham, who’s listed as probable with right hip soreness. Cunningham has been the engine of Detroit’s offense, and his return would be a big boost against a Warriors team that leads the league in made threes. Caris LeVert, meanwhile, remains doubtful due to illness and has now missed five straight games.
On the Warriors’ side, they’re still reeling from the loss of Jimmy Butler, who’s out for the season with an ACL tear. Jonathan Kuminga (knee bone bruise) and Seth Curry (sciatic nerve) are also out, while Gui Santos is listed as probable with a right calf contusion.
A Tale of Two Arcs: Three-Point Shooting Could Define the Game
Golden State continues to do what Golden State does-launch and connect from deep. The Warriors lead the NBA with 16.3 made threes per game, and Curry is still doing Curry things, averaging 4.5 makes from deep on 39% shooting. At 37 years old, he’s still putting up 27.3 points per night and remains one of the most lethal scorers in the league.
Detroit, on the other hand, ranks 27th in the league in three-pointers made per game (11.1). That disparity could loom large Friday night. If the Pistons can’t find a way to keep pace from long range-or at least limit the damage from Curry and company-this one could get away from them quickly.
The Bigger Picture: Trade Deadline Looms
This matchup is one of just three games left for Detroit before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. While the Pistons have clear roster needs, the expectation is that they won’t make any major, franchise-shifting moves before the buzzer sounds. That said, performances in games like this-especially against elite shooting teams-could influence smaller decisions around the edges of the roster.
Betting Lines and Odds
Golden State enters the game as a slight favorite at home, with the Pistons coming in on short rest. The Warriors’ home-court advantage and Detroit’s recent shooting woes are likely baked into the line.
How to Watch
- TV: ESPN (national), FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (local)
- Radio: WXYT-FM 97.1 (Detroit)
- Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo (free trial available)
Broadcast Crew for ESPN:
- Play-by-Play: Ryan Ruocco
- Analyst: Doris Burke
- Sideline Reporter: Alyssa Lang
What’s Next for Detroit
The Pistons have a busy stretch ahead with four home games following this West Coast swing:
- Feb. 1: vs. Nets, 6 p.m.
ET
- Feb. 3: vs.
Nuggets, 7 p.m. ET
- Feb. 5: vs. Wizards, 7 p.m.
ET
- Feb. 6: vs.
Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET
For now, all eyes are on Friday night. Can Detroit find its shooting stroke and slow down Curry?
Or will the Warriors’ perimeter firepower be too much to handle? Either way, it’s a late-night matchup worth staying up for.