The Detroit Pistons play the Cleveland Cavaliers at precisely the wrong time.
The Cavs are one of the NBA's hottest teams, winning nine of their last 10 games, leapfrogging the Philadelphia 76ers for the 4th seed in the process. They will also be getting All-Star guard Darius Garland back tonight, so bad luck for the Pistons, who have already lost twice to the Cavaliers this season.
The Pistons are fresh off their best win of the season, a drubbing of the OKC Thunder, the first time this season Detroit has beaten a good team.
But like all good things with the Pistons, a good thing can't just be good, as the victory led to conversations about Cade Cunningham and whether the team plays a better style without his ball dominance in the game.
It also opened a discussion about Cade's fit with Jaden Ivey, as the two seem to perform better when the other is in street clothes. We can't have anything nice.
The Pistons have won two of three and would love to keep the momentum going whether Cade is back in the lineup or not.
Is Cade Cunningham playing tonight? Pistons and Cavaliers injuries
Cade Cunningham has been upgraded to probable for tonight's 7:00 PM ET tip-off against the Cavaliers, but we've seen this before, so check the official injury report before game time to confirm.
The Pistons will be missing Isaiah Stewart, who rolled his ankle in the game against OKC and had to leave. Stewart has been battling various toe and ankle injuries over the last several weeks.
Ty Jerome continues to be out for Cleveland, but they will get Darius Garland back, so they will have most of their full roster of players.
Slowing down the Cavaliers' backcourt will be paramount for the Pistons tonight and the best way to do that will be to make them work on the defensive end, so let's hope Cade is back and that Monty Williams saw the ball movement in the last game without him. Both Cade and Ivey should be in attack mode all game.
Cunningham can certainly play in an offense that isn't just him dominating the ball and the Pistons are better and more difficult to defend when they share it. Can the Pistons make it two in a row against good teams?