The NBA in-season tournament may not hold much significance for perennial contenders, but for the Detroit Pistons, it’s a major event.
The Pistons are 3-0 in the NBA Cup and have the opportunity to win Group B by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in Detroit on Tuesday night. The Bucks are also undefeated in group play, making this a highly anticipated matchup.
Detroit secured its third tournament win with a 130-106 road victory over Indiana on Friday. The Pistons have also defeated Miami and Toronto in NBA Cup matchups. The winner of Tuesday’s contest will earn the right to host a quarterfinal game.
However, the Pistons faced a setback on Saturday, losing 111-96 at home to Philadelphia. Cade Cunningham sat out due to a hip injury that previously caused him to miss three games, but he’s expected to play on Tuesday. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff partially attributed the loss to travel issues.
The Bucks are on a six-game winning streak, including a 124-114 victory over Washington on Saturday, where Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 42 points and added 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Antetokounmpo, along with Damian Lillard, has been instrumental in Milwaukee’s hot streak. Lillard contributed 25 points and 10 assists against the Wizards.
