The Detroit Pistons won a thriller against the Atlanta Hawks just two days after losing to the Charlotte Hornets on a buzzer beater.
Cade Cunningham recorded his third straight triple-double and also got a certain segment of the fanbase off his back when he hit the go-ahead bucket then blocked a possible game winner as time ran out.
It was great to see the young Pistons bounce back after a tough loss even if they did blow a huge lead to Atlanta.
They will face another tough test today against the up-and-coming Houston Rockets, and once again, the Pistons will likely be shorthanded.
Pistons injuries: Will Jalen Duren play against the Rockets?
Jalen Duren is listed as doubtful for today’s game against Houston, leaving the Pistons with just Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed at center.
Stewart played most of the minutes against the Hawks and we can expect a heavy dose again today if Duren is indeed out.
Ausar Thompson is still out, so won’t get his first crack at his twin brother and second-round pick Bobi Klintman will also be in street clothes.
The Rockets will be missing center Steven Adams, so their depth will also be tested.
How to watch Pistons vs. Rockets
Today’s game has an early 3:00 PM ET tip-off and will be televised on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit or you can listen on 950 AM.
There are some new streaming options this season and you can get the full Pistons’ guide here.
Keys for the Pistons vs. Rockets
The Rockets have a balanced attack with seven players currently averaging double figures, though they are led by Jalen Green, who is getting more than 21 per game.
The Pistons need to win the battle of the backcourts with another big game from Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, who will have to find ways to control the pace and score in the half court.
Detroit will also need to win the battle of the benches, as the Rockets bring good players in Amen Thompson and Tari Eason off the bench who can win games for them on a given night.
The Pistons will need Malik Beasley to start making more shots and for Ron Holland II to keep Thompson from getting into the paint. Someone off Detroit’s bench will need to score in double digits, so this would be a great time for Simone Fontecchio to break out.
It will need to be a team effort against a deep Rockets squad. This is an early test between two rising young teams, a big one for the Pistons, who have the Heat and Bucks up next.