Clippers playing without Kawhi Leonard, Norm Powell, Ben Simmons
The Detroit Pistons are coming off their best offensive performance of the season and looking for their seventh consecutive win as they host the Los Angeles Clippers at Little Caesars Arena. Both teams are on a back-to-back that involves travel. Detroit is coming off of a 148-143 win in Atlanta, while the Clippers are coming off of a 129-111 loss in Indianapolis against the Pacers.
The Clippers will be playing tonight with star Kawhi Leonard (left foot soreness), Norm Powell (left patellar tendinopathy), and Ben Simmons (left knee injury management). The Pistons will be playing without Simone Fontecchio, who left the game against the Hawks after suffering a dislocated finger on his shooting hand.
The Pistons will once again be relying on a team effort, with shooters like Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr., secondary passers like Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren, and the calming presence of veteran Tobais Harris helping take some of the pressure of their star Cade Cunningham.
In the win over the Hawks, Cade scored 29 points in the first half, but was limited to eight points in the second half as Atlanta sold out and committed to an anyone-but-Cade defense. His team was happy to oblige, and the team shot a season-high 59%.
The Clippers don’t really have that luxury with Leonard and Powell out for the game. They will need to rely on James Harden to do a bit of everything. And they have to find a way to start defending like a typical Ty Lue team is capable of.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -3
Projected Starters
Detroit Pistons (31-26)
Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardaway, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Los Angeles Clippers (31-25)
James Harden, Kris Dunn, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nicolas Batum, Ivica Zubac