The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons are set for a 7 p.m. tilt in the final home preseason game in Detroit. Get geared up and join the discussion.
The Detroit Pistons had a solid comeback win led by Luke Kennard and Derrick Rose in Wednesday’s 124-117 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Look for the Pistons to improve their defense against an upstart Cleveland Cavaliers team.
Tip-off: 7 p.m. ET
TV: Fox Sports Detroit
Radio: 97.1 The Ticket
Streams: Fox Sports Go and FUBO.TV
Last time out: Pistons beat Dallas 124-117. Cavaliers beat San Lorenzo de Almagro 120-89.
Over/under: 217.5 (according to The Score)
Lines: Pistons -4.0 (according to The Score)
Social Poll
Each game we will share a poll on the @PistonPowered Twitter account that features a pressing issue, either piggy-backing off the previous game or something that comes to our Site Experts’ minds.
For Friday’s game, we’re taking a look at which backcourt the Pistons should use to close games. Recency bias may swing towards Rose and Kennard after the duo scored 37 points and led the comeback against the Mavericks.
It’s a #Cavs-#Pistons gameday! It’s the final home preseason game at Little Caesars Arena.
— PistonPowered (@PistonPowered) October 11, 2019
Today, we wonder which backcourt you’d close a game with (if not listed, reply)?
What to expect
For some reason, ESPN has Rose listed as out for Friday’s game, along with Cleveland’s John Henson. There haven’t been any reports made public from beat writers or team officials so keep an eye on that.
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Detroit needs to improve defensively but the bigger key to watch is how Dwane Casey deploys the bench rotations and who he pairs together. Casey has shown a reliance on small-ball lineups through the first two games with the second unit but Christian Wood‘s emergence has been encouraging as he battles for a roster spot. Rose, Kennard and Markieff Morris are staples off the bench but the Pistons are searching for who to play alongside them.
It’s Cleveland’s first game against NBA competition. It’ll be interesting to see how former Michigan coach John Beilein uses his rotation and how much experience he gives rookies Darius Garland and Kevin Porter Jr. to get acclimated to the NBA pace. It’ll be interesting to see if Kevin Love gets a minutes bump after playing 15 last season.
Sound off
Join the Piston Powered team and other Pistons fans in the comments section throughout the game. It should be a solid evening where we learn more about the Pistons and read the tea leaves together to see where they may be leaning for the 15-man roster.
For tonight’s game, what’re you looking forward to most?