Pistons can’t let one get away against the Washington Wizards
The Detroit Pistons can’t afford to take the Washington Wizards lightly as they begin a two-game set against the Eastern Conference’s worst team. Washington has injected some veteran competence in the form of Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart, and the team has responded by delivering nearly one-third of their wins this season in their past seven games. For those not steeped into the Wizards’ season, that equates to a 4-3 record in their past seven games.
The Pistons are no longer fighting for the playoffs; they are fighting for a top-4 seed with two teams above them but within striking distance. That means Detroit cannot afford to drop winnable games, and seeing the Wizards twice in a row is a prime opportunity to pad that win total. Unless Detroit gets in its own way, and it has plenty of experience with that lately. The shooting has been hot and cold, and the turnovers have been endemic. Detroit was able to survive a scare from Portland, but they can’t bank on the Wizards not being able to capitalize on the PIstons’ unforced errors.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -15
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (36-29)
Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardaway Jr., Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Washington Wizards (13-50)
Jordan Poole, Bub Carrington, Khris Middleton, Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr