The Detroit Pistons will take their 1-0 record up against the Washington Wizards on the road in a tough test against John Wall and company.
The Detroit Pistons travel to the nation’s capital Friday to face the Washington Wizards in the second game of the season for both teams. The Pistons beat the Charlotte Hornets 102-90 in the first game of the Little Caesars Arena era, and the Wizards beat the Philadelphia 76ers 120-115 to open the 2017-18 campaign.
The Wizards are dealing with injury issues at the power forward spot, with Markieff Morris‘ replacement Jason Smith now day-to-day with a shoulder injury. In the Wizards’ season opener Kelly Oubre Jr. played 32 minutes off the bench so expect them to go small for long stretches.
The Pistons’ starting lineup from the season opener, with Stanley Johnson at the three and Tobias Harris at the four, is especially well-suited to deal with small-ball lineups, but as of this afternoon Johnson is questionable to play and likely a game time decision due to back soreness. This means Jon Leuer will probably start at the four and Harris will shift to the three.
After Boban Marjanovic stayed glued to the bench in Wednesday’s opener, we may see him make his debut against the Wizards. He matches up against Washington’s stationary bigs Marcian Gortat and Ian Mahinimi better than he did against Dwight Howard, so his situational utility will likely come into play tonight.
Tobias Harris was hot all game on Wednesday, scoring 27 points on 18 shots, but much of his extra work came as a result of Avery Bradley and Andre Drummond playing shortened minutes due to early foul trouble. Bradley and Drummond will almost certainly combine for more than the 23 points and 19 shots they accumulated in the season opener.
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The Pistons starting lineup will likely consist of Reggie Jackson, Bradley, Harris, Leuer and Drummond, while the Wizards will start John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter, Gortat, and whatever they decide to do at the four (perhaps starting Oubre).