Cade Cunningham will miss his third consecutive game
The Detroit Pistons have broken many embarrassing streaks this season, but one that remains is its 12-game losing streak against the Cleveland Cavaliers . As the Pistons look to break that streak and avoid another season sweep, they will be missing their star point guard Cade Cunningham, who will miss his third consecutive game with a left calf contusion.
The Cavs have the No. 1 seed in the East pretty well locked up and are attempting to fend off disinterest in the season’s closing days. Cleveland won 16 in a row to build its nearly insurmountable cushion and promptly dropped four straight. They steered out of that skid, however, and have won three straight. It should be noted, however, that those games were not against the league’s top teams, with wins against the Utah Jazz , Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs .
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Extra
Odds: Pistons +6.5
Analysis
In the previous matchup between these two teams, the Pistons got down early but fought their way back into the game, eventually falling by three points. It was also one of the better games of Cunningham’s season. He scored 38 points, got to the line 13 times, had nine assists, one turnover, and four steals. The Cavs were missing Donovan Mitchell, but Evan Mobley and Darius Garland more than picked up the slack. He scored 30 points, one of just four times this season he reach the 30-point threshold, and hit three 3-pointers.
Now the script will be flipped with Cunningham out of the lineup and Mitchell playing. Mitchell has been struggling a bit with his shot in the second half of the season. In the past month, MItchell is shooting 36% from the floor and 22% from three. He was able to get right against the Spurs with 25 points and four three-pointers, but if his shooting woes surface against the Pistons, Detroit could stay in this game throughout.
The Pistons will also need to rely on steady production from its point guard rotation of Dennis Schröder and Marcus Sasser. Schröder has played well enough on both ends of the floor and Sasser has re-emerged into the rotation shooting the lights out. In Detroit’s losses previous losses to the Cavs this season, having no production when Cunningham sits. If the Pistons are able to win without Cade and do it behind the contributions of its pair of lead guards, it will not only end a long losing streak but signal a new level of play as the Pistons start preparing for the postseason. Speaking of ball handlers, another huge contributor should the Pistons pull off the upset tonight would have to be Jalen Duren. He not only has to hold his own defensively against Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, he has to impose his will on offense to ensure the Cavs’ big men are not able to settle into a groove. He needs to use his power, speed, and passing ability to put his stamp on this game.
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (41-32)
Dennis Schröder, Tim Hardaway, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Cleveland Cavaliers (59-14)
Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Question of the Day
Who do you trust to have more success in the playoffs, Ron Holland or Ausar Thompson?