Watching the Detroit Pistons over the last few years hasn’t been for the faint of heart.
Detroit has been the worst team in the league over the last five seasons combined, so by the end of each of them it was only the diehards and masochists tuning in.
A quick look at the 2024-25 schedule shows that the Pistons could get into a big hole early, but hopefully they have improved enough to stay competitive and keep people interested for a whole season.
Luckily, there are options for watching Pistons games (sort of), though there are still issues that will present challenges to fans in certain locations.
How to Watch Pistons Games on Cable TV This Season
If you have DirectTV, you are in luck, as all 82 Pistons games will either be on Fanduel Sports Network Detroit or Fanduel Sports Network Detroit Extra. As of the time of this, that is channel 663 in Detroit, though check your local guide to confirm. These channels were previously called Bally Sports Detroit and Bally Sports Detroit Extra.
The Pistons also have four nationally televised games on the following channels:
NBA TV
The Pistons wil play on NBA TV three times this sseason. They have a road game against the Hornets on November 21st, a road game against the Cavaliers on January 27th and another road game against the Jazz on March 3rd.
ESPN
The Pistons have one game on ESPN on February 7th at home against the 76ers. Games against Philly are always going to be fun, as I am certain Tobias Harris would like to have big games against his old team, so you should circle this one on the calendar.
Streaming Pistons Games Without Cable
NBA League Pass
The NBA still hasn't fully addressed the streaming issues that confront fans, but there are far more options this season than there have been in the past, especially for those who live in the Detroit area.
For those who live outside the Detroit region, NBA League Pass is still a great option, as you can stream all out-of-market games, but be sure to check this before purchase as games in the Detroit region are stil blacked out.
FuboTV
You can now stream Bally Sports Detroit through the FuboTV app for those who do not have cable.
You can get a free trial for FuboTV here.
Hulu + Live TV
Those who subscribe to Hulu + Live TV will now get a selection of NBA games.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV will also have some NBA games available, though you should check your zip code to see exactly what's on offer. This service is not cheap, but you can get a free trial here.
Amazon
The good news is that you can stream nearly all of the Pistons games on Amazon next season. The bad news is that it is 20 bucks a month, but if you can swing it, and don't have any options, here is more information.
Pistons projected starting lineup
As for who will be starting for the Detroit Pistons, it's anyone's guess, as they switched up their starting five in the preseaon and are still missing Ausar Thompson.
The guarantees in the starting lineup are Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren, but that 5th spot is still a mystery. Malik Beasley, Simone Fontecchio and Tim Hardaway Jr. all got their cracks at it in the preseason, but if I had to guess, this is the starting five I think we'll see on opening night:
-Cade Cunningham
-Jaden Ivey
-Malik Beasley
-Tobias Harris
-Jalen Duren
I wouldn't be shocked at all to see Fontecchio or even THJ get the nod early on, but it seems as if coach Bickerstaff will want his best veterans on the floor, at least until Ausar Thompson returns.