My wishes for the Detroit Pistons this season were modest.
I wanted them to be competitive (check) and to have the chance to play meaningful games (check) and if they could build a rivalry or two along the way, even better.
In all of the discourse about the “problems” with the NBA (mostly from people who don’t actually watch it), no one ever talks about the lack of real rivalries in the league.
For the record, I am an old school head who loves the modern game. Things evolve and change, including sports and the athletes just continue to refine and get better and I think the game is in a great place.
My only complaint is that many of the heated rivalries that existed in the 80’s and 90’s fizzled out as star players started increasingly switching teams, so it wasn’t the game group of guys playing each other in the playoffs every year.
The Pistons were part of some of the best rivalries in NBA history and are hopefully on their way back to that, as you can’t really have rivalries when one team is perpetually terrible.
Pistons/Pacers used to be one of the most heated rivalries in the league, and has a chance to get back there now that both teams are competing for something for the first time in ages.
The Pistons are just a half game behind the Pacers for the 6th seed and just a game behind the slumping Magic for the 5th, so there is something at stake tonight in Little Caesar’s Arena, which should be rocking.
The question is who is playing for the Pacers?
Pistons vs. Pacers injuries: Is Tyrese Haliburton playing tonight?
Tyrese Haliburton has a strained groin and is listed as questionable for tonight’s game. They originally worried it was a pull or a tear, so good to see it’s a minor injury. He should probably rest for a few games just to be safe.
The Pacers could also be missing Bennedict Mathurin, who was suspended for a game for bumping a ref. Whether he’ll serve that tonight has not yet been announced.
The Pacers will also be missing Aaron Nesmith, Isaiah Jackson and our old friend James Wiseman, who was injured when these two played back in October.
The Pistons will be missing Jaden Ivey, so if both Ivey and Mathurin are out that will take some of the juice out of the rivalry, as those two legit hate each other.
How to watch Pistons vs. Pacers
The game will be aired on the usual channel, FanDuel Sports Network Detroit if you have cable and you can find it on 950 AM on the radio.
There are many streaming options this season that you can find here.
This game should have a playoff atmosphere and will be a great test for the Pistons as they try to prove they are legit and move up the standings.