The Detroit Pistons (26-26) look to extend their four-game win streak when they host the Brooklyn Nets (19-36) tonight.
After losing eight straight games, the Detroit Pistons have won four in a row, all coinciding with the acquisition of Blake Griffin. Most recently, they defeated Portland 111-91 on Monday night, a game in which they led wire to wire.
In his three games in the Motor City, Blake Griffin has averaged 20.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. While only shooting 41% so far, he showed his stroke on Monday, knocking down 3 three-pointers.
Andre Drummond is coming off an Eastern Conference Player of the Week honor, including a historic game on Saturday.
Andre Drummond is the 1st player with 20 points, 20 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 blocks in a game since The Dream in 1989. pic.twitter.com/BIr5YbXyIG
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 4, 2018
He continued his dominance on Monday, with 17 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. Last time out against Brooklyn; however, he was held to 7 points on 3-8 shooting from the field.
Including tonight, four of Detroit’s final five games before the All-Star break are at Little Caesars Arena, where the Pistons have a 17-10 record. The Eastern Conference is still very bunched up from seeds 3-9, and a strong stretch going into the All-Star break can get the Pistons back into the playoff picture.
Looking at Brooklyn, they are on the second leg of a back-to-back. Last night, they fell to the Houston Rockets 123-113. Former Piston Spencer Dinwiddie had 18 points and 9 assists, and is now averaging 19.3 points over his last 4 games. Last time Brooklyn came to Little Caesars Arena, it was Dinwiddie who delivered the game-winner with under a second left.
A key to this game will be to get Drummond involved early against the young bigs of Brooklyn. Rookie Jarrett Allen is a 19-year-old who weighs 50 pounds less than Drummond, and backup center Jahlil Okafor has been known throughout his career as a notoriously bad defender.
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This year, the Nets are only 3-8 on the back end of back-to-backs. The Pistons will look to make that 3-9 at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports Detroit.