The Detroit Pistons (4-2) look to get back on track this Halloween night when they visit the Brooklyn Nets (2-5). Tipoff from the Barclays Center is slated for 7:30 p.m. EST.
In the first of a two-game, home-and-home series with the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons were shellacked on their home floor, losing 109-89 for their first loss of the season.
Blake Griffin had his worst game of the season, scoring only seven points, while Detroit was down nearly 30 points late in the first half.
Three days later on Oct. 30 – this time on the road – the Pistons came out and put up a fight against one of the best teams in the NBA. But they came up short yet again, losing by a score of 108-105.
The Pistons had a chance to tie with a 3-point shot late in the fourth quarter, but on the in-bounds pass under their own basket, Griffin lead Ish Smith too far with the pass and it got away.
There was a mad scramble for the ball, and Boston’s Kyrie Irving came up with it, essentially sealing the win for the Celtics.
This is the first stretch of adversity that Detroit has faced on the young season after their 4-0 start. The team did show some resilience in Tuesday’s close loss; however there are no moral victories in the NBA.
What to look for in Brooklyn
This will be the first game on the second of a back-to-back (SEGABABA) for the Detroit Pistons’ this season (there are 13 in total). Surprisingly, the Pistons had a 7-4 record on the SEGABABA last season.
Despite that positive record last year, Detroit was notoriously bad in these situations throughout the entire Stan Van Gundy era.
Additionally of note for the Nets, Allen Crabbe was unable to play in the first meeting between the two teams (a 103-100 win at Little Caesars Arena for Detroit). Crabbe’s absence is notable due to how much he seemingly enjoys playing the Pistons (including a 34-point effort last February).
The Nets come into the contest at 2-5, but recently suffered a tough loss when leading late at New Orleans, that featured a questionable late game foul, a horrible turnover, and a technical foul by Ed Davis for pushing a player – all in the final 30 seconds.
Don’t be fooled by the Nets’ record, this team has some talented players that have given Pistons fits in the past when having far less talent.
While the Nets were missing Crabbe in the first meeting, Detroit was without key players Stanley Johnson and Reggie Bullock.
Spencer Dinwiddie was able to score 23 points in the Oct. 17 meeting, and Caris Levert poured in 27, as both shot 10-for-18 from the floor.
Injuries
The Pistons will be without Luke Kennard in this game, along with the foreseeable future. The Nets have been without DeMarre Carroll the entire season, while they will also be without Treveon Graham. Rodions Kurucs is listed as day-to-day with an ankle injury.
Game Day Information
TV: Fox Sports Detroit (channel 30 in Detroit)
Radio: 97.1 FM The Ticket (Pistons’ radio affiliate)
When: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, New York)