If not now, win. If not now, why?
The Detroit Pistons need to win tonight’s game against he Utah Jazz . It is their last, best hope of avoiding setting the record for the most consecutive losses in a single NBA season. Detroit currently stands just two losses away from the 26-game record set by the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2013-14 season and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010-11. If the Pistons lose tonight, they face consecutive games against the Brooklyn Nets .
Tonight, though, might just be their lucky night. Because the Jazz are on the second night of a back-to-back, and because there might be some mercy in this cruel world, Utah is resting several of its best players, including star forward Lauri Markkanen. Altogether, the Jazz are sitting players representing 38% of its total points scored on the season. You have leading scorer Markkanen as well as three, four and five in Talen Horton-Tucker, Jordan Clarkson, and Keyonte George, respectively. Throw in Omer Urtseven for good measure.
It’s Detroit’s game to lose. Actually, come to think of it, the Pistons are great at that. So I guess we’ll just see what fate allows.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Bally Sports Detroit
Odds: Pistons -2 (that’s right, the Pistons are now favored)
Projected Lineup
Detroit Pistons (2-25)
Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart
Utah Jazz (10-18)
Kris Dunn, Collin Sexton, Simone Fontecchio, John Collins, Walker Kessler