Category → Game Preview
Pistons will try to overcome devastating news that Florida International fired Isiah Thomas as they face the Atlanta Hawks
Essentials
- Teams: Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks
- Date: April 6, 2012
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Television: Fox Sports Detroit
Records
- Pistons: 21-33
- Hawks: 32-23
Probable starters
Pistons:
Hawks:
- Jeff Teague
- Kirk Hinrich
- Joe Johnson
- Josh Smith
- Zaza Pachulia
Las Vegas projection
Spread: Pistons +8.5
Over/under: 186
Score: Hawks win, 97.25-88.75
Read about the Hawks
Wizards come to town to show how to do tanking right
Essentials
- Teams: Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons
- Date: April 5, 2012
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Television: Fox Sports Detroit Plus
Records
- Pistons: 20-33
- Wizards: 12-42
Probable starters
Pistons:
Wizards:
- John Wall
- Jordan Crawford
- Chris Singleton
- Trevor Booker
- Nene
Las Vegas projection
Spread: Pistons -5
Over/under: 190
Score: Pistons win, 97.5-92.5
Read about the Wizards
Notes
1. Stuckey will play. David Mayo of MLive:
Rodney Stuckey returns to the Detroit Pistons tonight, in a reserve role, after a pulled left hamstring cost him almost all of the last four games.
Gordon played well against the Magic, so it’s not really imperative that Stuckey get back in there quickly or anything anyway.
2. See ya next year, Ben Wallace.
Wallace joked that he might let the fans vote on whether or not he plays next year. Well Ben, sorry to inform you, 75 percent of fans who have voted in the poll say you are coming back.
Ben Gordon back for the Pistons, Dwight Howard questionable for the Magic tonight
Essentials
- Teams: Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons
- Date: April 3, 2012
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Television: Fox Sports Detroit
Records
- Pistons: 19-33
- Magic: 32-21
Probable starters
Pistons:
Magic:
- Jameer Nelson
- Jason Richardson
- Hedo Turkoglu
- Glen Davis
- Dwight Howard
Las Vegas projection
Spread: Pistons +5.5
Over/under: 182
Score: Magic win, 99.75-94.25
Read about the Magic
Notes
1. Gordon will play, Stuckey won’t, per David Mayo:
Rodney Stuckey (hamstring) remains out, but said last weekend that he anticipates returning for Thursday’s game against Washington.
That means Austin Daye should get good minutes once again, although I’d be surprised if Gordon doesn’t get the start. Daye’s workload has increased a lot over the last three games with Gordon and Stuckey out. His shooting though? Not so much … he’s just 9-for-24 overall and 2-for-6 from three in that stretch.
2. Dwight Howard and Ryan Anderson are questionable, per the Orlando Sentinel:
Ryan Anderson and Dwight Howard made the trip to Michigan on Monday, an Orlando Magic spokesman said. But it’s unclear if the injured players will play when the team faces the Detroit Pistons tonight.
Howard was out with back spasms in Orlando’s previous game, but I’d be surprised if he doesn’t suit up tonight. The Magic have lost three straight and he’s capable of destroying Detroit’s frontcourt. It would be a nice boost for the Pistons, though, if they could avoid both Howard and Anderson tonight.
Ben Gordon, Rodney Stuckey and Derrick Rose out, Rip Hamilton likely in tonight’s game vs. Chicago
Essentials
- Teams: Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls
- Date: March 30, 2012
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Television: Fox Sports Detroit
Records
- Pistons: 18-32
- Bulls: 41-11
Probable starters
Pistons:
Bulls:
- C.J. Watson
- Ronnie Brewer
- Luol Deng
- Carlos Boozer
- Joakim Noah
Las Vegas projection
Spread: Pistons +10
Over/under: 182
Score: Bulls win, 96-86
Read about the Bulls
Notes
1. Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press:
Daye starts with Stuck and BG out.
Needless to say, this is a huge opportunity for Daye, but it won’t be easy for him either. The Bulls have brutish perimeter defenders in Ronnie Brewer and Luol Deng who are not only great defensively, but much stronger than Daye too.
2. Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago:
Chicago Bulls guard Richard Hamilton went through a full shoot-around Friday morning and is a game-time decision to face the Detroit Pistons, according to coach Tom Thibodeau, while Derrick Rose only participated halfway and will likely miss his ninth consecutive game with a groin injury.
Hamilton, who injured his right shoulder on March 5, has played in just 16 games this season because of various injuries. He began taking contact on Wednesday.
In order for Hamilton to play, the Bulls need “medical clearance first, and when he’s pain free, he goes,” coach Tom Thibodeau said.
Some believe Hamilton shouldn’t have returned to face his former team in Detroit on Jan. 4. He tweaked his injury and missed the next eight games.
It’s a pretty safe bet that Hamilton is going to do whatever he can to play tonight. The Pistons get a big break with Rose out, though.
3. Can Detroit win three straight road games?
Chicago doesn’t have Rose, but the Bulls still have lockdown defense. Monroe has had a good game against Noah once this season, and he’ll need to break out of his recent slump if the Pistons are going to win tonight.
Ben Gordon out against Cavaliers
Essentials
- Teams: Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers
- Date: March 28, 2012
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Television: Fox Sports Detroit
Records
- Pistons: 17-32
- Cavaliers: 17-30
Probable starters
Pistons:
Cavaliers:
- Kyrie Irving
- Anthony Parker
- Alonzo Gee
- Antawn Jamison
- Tristan Thompson
Las Vegas projection
Spread: Pistons –1.5
Over/under: 191
Score: Pistons win, 96.25-94.75
Read about the Cavaliers
Ben Gordon out
Ben Gordon will miss the game with a groin injury, according to Ryan Field.
Jeremy Lin and Walker Russell meet again, this time in the NBA
Essentials
- Teams: Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks
- Date: March 24, 2012
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Television: Fox Sports Detroit
Records
- Pistons: 16-31
- Knicks: 23-25
Probable starters
Pistons:
Knicks:
- Jeremy Lin
- Landry Fields
- Carmelo Anthony
- Amar’e Stoudemire
- Tyson Chandler
Las Vegas projection
Spread: Pistons +10.5
Over/under: 192.5
Score: Knicks win, 101.5-91
Read about the Knicks
Heat will be closer to full strength in rematch with Pistons
Essentials
- Teams: Miami Heat at Detroit Pistons
- Date: March 23, 2012
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Television: Fox Sports Detroit
Records
- Pistons: 16-30
- Heat: 34-11
Probable starters
Pistons:
Heat:
- Mario Chalmers
- Dwyane Wade (Wade sat out the first meeting between these teams when the Pistons nearly pulled off an upset)
- LeBron James
- Chris Bosh
- Joel Anthony
Las Vegas projection
Spread: Pistons +8
Over/under: 194
Score: Heat win, 101-93
Read about the Heat
Rodney Stuckey out against Nuggets
Essentials
- Teams: Detroit Pistons at Denver Nuggets
- Date: March 21, 2012
- Time: 9 p.m.
- Television: Fox Sports Detroit
Records
- Pistons: 16-29
- Nuggets: 25-21
Probable starters
Pistons:
- Brandon Knight
- Ben Gordon (Rodney Stuckey, who has been bothered by his left big toe, will miss the game, according to Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News.)
- Tayshaun Prince
- Jason Maxiell
- Greg Monroe
Nuggets:
- Ty Lawson
- Arron Afflalo
- Danilo Gallinari
- Kenneth Faried
- Timofey Mozgov
Las Vegas projection
Spread: Pistons +8
Over/under: 200
Score: Nuggets win, 104-96
Read about the Nuggets
Jason Maxiell and Kenyon Martin face off for Cincinnati bragging rights
Essentials
- Teams: Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Clippers
- Date: March 18, 2012
- Time: 3:30 p.m.
- Television: Fox Sports Detroit
Records
- Pistons: 16-28
- Clippers: 25-18
Probable starters
Pistons:
Clippers:
- Chris Paul
- Nick Young
- Caron Butler
- Blake Griffin
- DeAndre Jordan
Las Vegas projection
Spread: Pistons +7
Over/under: 188.5
Score: Clippers win, 97.75-90.75
