The Detroit Pistons are back home at the friendly confines of Little Caesars Arena after a grueling five-game road trip. The Pistons started that trip with two wins, but then dropped three straight. They are looking to right the ship tonight against the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs have their own woes to contend with. Key starters Luka Doncic and Derrick Lively remain out for the Mavs. In their place, Kyrie Irving has to carry the scoring load while Daniel Gafford has to try and pick up the slack in the paint. Irving will be playing his first game since failing to make the All-Star team, and will be matched up with Cade Cunningham, who was named an All-Star reserve for the first time.
This is also a potential revenge game for Detroit’s Tim Hardaway Jr. facing his former Mavs teammates, and Quentin Grimes, who enjoyed a brief tenure with the Pistons but was dealt in the Hardaway move, and Spencer Dinwiddie, an old friend who loves to be a thorn in the side of the team who drafted and gave up on him. The Pistons will be without key reserve Isaiah Stewart, who received a one-game suspension following his actions and eventual ejection against the Indiana Pacers.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -1.5
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (23-24)
Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardaway Jr, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Dallas Mavericks (26-22)
Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, Klay Thompson, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford