Pistons injuries vs. Spurs: Rag-tag rosters a fitting end to an ugly season

San Antonio Spurs v Detroit Pistons
San Antonio Spurs v Detroit Pistons / Gregory Shamus/GettyImages
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Troy Weaver's stated goal for the Detroit Pistons this season was to play "82 meaningful games."

So much for that.

After winning two of three, the Pistons went on a historic 28-game losing streak that ensured another lost season without a single "meaningful" game, at least when it comes to the playoff standings.

The season finale against the San Antonio Spurs will have some meaning, as the Pistons still have a chance to tie the Washington Wizards for the worst record in the NBA with a win and a Washington loss.

The Spurs won six of their last 10, which allowed the Portland Trail Blazers to plummet into a tie for last place in the Western Conference. So you got your wish, Troy, the Pistons' 82nd game will determine the worst team in each conference. Result!

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With both teams hoping to lose (could they just split a loss here?), we are going to see the most rag-tag rotations of the season going head-to-head today in San Antonio, with so many players injured we may see a few members of the crowd step onto the floor and launch shots.

Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs: Injury update

The Pistons will be missing their normal five of Isaiah Stewart, Ausar Thompson, Stanley Umude, Quentin Grimes and Simone Fontecchio.

Cade Cunningham, who has missed the last six games, will once again fail to play 65 games in a season for the third time in his career. He's listed as doubtful for today and there is really no reason at all to play him, so expect to see Cade on the bench for the final game again.

Jalen Duren is listed as questionable for today's game, which has a 3:30 ET tip-off, with the NBA hoping no one will notice.

The only good news is that we won't have to watch Victor Wembanyama go off, so we avoided that punishment, as he has been ruled out along with eight other regulars for San Antonio.

So if your dream was to watch emergency replacement players in a game that will resemble the scabs during a strike, then I have some good news for you!

It's a fitting end to what has been an ugly season, and the fourth time in four seasons that the Pistons' final game will only be meaningful to the lottery standings.

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