The Detroit Pistons (29-34), losers of eight of their last 10, visit the Cleveland Cavaliers (36-26) on Monday night.
Five weeks ago to the day, the Detroit Pistons acquired Blake Griffin; the following night, the team rolled Cleveland 125-114 without their new forward in the lineup. The Pistons went on to win their next four games with Griffin, and the team had new life for the first time in a long time.
How things can change in a month.
Heading into tonight, Detroit is five games below .500, the lowest mark of the season, and have dropped eight of their last 10 games including a disastrous trip to Florida this past week. On Friday, the Pistons blew a seven-point lead in the final five minutes of regulation and went on to lose to the Orlando Magic – who came in on a seven-game losing streak – in overtime by nine. Detroit lost to Miami 105-96 the following night, which dropped them four full games back of the Heat for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
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Things aren’t getting any easier. Detroit next stretch of games includes five of six against opponents in the thick of the playoff mix, four of which are on the road: at Cleveland, vs. Toronto, vs. Chicago, at Utah, at Denver, at Portland. Including tonight, seven of Detroit’s next nine games are on the road, including a six-game Western Conference road trip from March 13 to March 22. The Pistons may be at their lowest point of the season right now, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better.
Cleveland, meanwhile, wraps a five-game homestand with tonight’s game against Detroit. They’ll be looking to right the ship as well, as they’ve gone 1-3 during that stretch and are 1-4 in their last five home games.
The Cavs are just 5-4 since their trade deadline bonanza in which they shipped out Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade, Jae Crowder, Derrick Rose, Iman Shumpert, and Channing Frye in exchange for Larry Nance Jr., Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood, and George Hill.
At 36-26, Cleveland sits in third in the Eastern Conference with a better chance of losing home court advantage than they do of catching Boston or Toronto at the top of the standings.
Tonight’s matchup is the fourth and final in the season series between these Central Division foes, with Cleveland holding a 2-1 edge, although it’ll be Detroit’s first look at the post-deadline Cavaliers.
On the injury front, Kevin Love (broken hand) and Jeff Green (back) are out for Cleveland, while Tristan Thompson sprained his ankle on Saturday and may not play. Detroit’s still missing Reggie Jackson and Jon Leuer.
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The Pistons and Cavs tip off from Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland at 7:00 p.m. ET, with the game being broadcast on NBA TV.