The Detroit Pistons will look to take advantage of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ fatigue when they visit Detroit on Wednesday night, following the Cavaliers’ back-to-back set against the Boston Celtics.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons kicked off their six-game homestand with two wins but fell short against the struggling Atlanta Hawks, losing 132-130 on Monday. Trae Young’s game-winning shot with 1.6 seconds remaining ended the Hawks’ eight-game losing streak. Detroit’s defense struggled, allowing 73 first-half points and giving the Hawks a confidence boost.
Despite the loss, Detroit’s offense was effective, with All-Star Cade Cunningham leading the way with 30 points and 14 assists. The team shot 51.8 percent from the field, matching their second-highest scoring output of the season. The Pistons, who won just 14 games last season, are currently 25-25 overall and 12-12 at home.
Detroit aims to end their 11-game losing streak against the Cavaliers, which includes two meetings this season. Their last victory over Cleveland was on February 24, 2022.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are coming off a 112-105 loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. Despite Donovan Mitchell’s impressive performance with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, and strong contributions from Darius Garland (25 points) and Jarrett Allen (17 points, 18 rebounds), the Cavs couldn’t secure the win.
All-Star Evan Mobley will look to bounce back from a tough game against Boston, where he scored just seven points on 3-for-14 shooting. The Cavaliers, who play three of their last four games before the All-Star break on the road, had their four-game winning streak snapped.
Trade Deadline Looms
Both the Cavaliers and Pistons are mindful of the upcoming trade deadline on Thursday. While the Cavaliers aren’t expected to make major moves, coach Kenny Atkinson mentioned that president of basketball operations Koby Altman is exploring all possibilities.
