The Detroit Pistons enter tonight’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers with the best record in the Eastern Conference. It is the latest in the season that they have held the No. 1 seed since the Flip Saunders era. Detroit is playing really well, and it has been driven by the emergence of Jalen Duren as a true force and the fourth-quarter heroics of Cade Cunningham.
But we can also be honest with ourselves — the Pistons have played an awfully light schedule. Detroit has beaten one team with a winning record — the Houston Rockets. Its sixth other wins have come against sub-.500 teams, and it has two losses against the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers. In other words, a game tonight against the Sixers can say a lot about where they are.
**When:** 7:30 p.m. ET
**Where:** Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia 76ers
**Watch:** Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
**Odds:** Pistons -4.5
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The Pistons are not the only surprising team in this early NBA season. The Sixers are also leading their division, thanks to a 6-3 record driven largely by its young backcourt — Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Joel Embiid is still effective, but it already looks like a passing of the torch is occurring.
The Sixers score 124 points per game (third in the NBA) led largely by its two young guards pushing the pace and scoring efficiently. They can hit perimeter shots, and they can put pressure on the interior to either get a clean look or get themselves to the free-throw line. That doesn’t even factor in infamous free-throw merchant Embiid, who is only shooting about half as many free throws this season as he has been in his peak years. I think that says less about Embiid being less effective, and more about the Philadelphia offense not being required to run through the big man. They have more weapons now, and are much more dangerous.
Offensively, the Pistons will need to rely on Jalen Duren to get his defenders into foul trouble and stay out of foul trouble himself. The Sixers allow more than 50 points per game in the paint and are prone to giving up their share of offensive rebounds. That is a recipe for success for Duren. Detroit’s young wings — Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland — will also have a huge role tonight as they try to keep Philly’s attacking guards in front of them and attack a vulnerable Philly defense. The Sixers rank dead last in the NBA in fastbreak points allowed. Detroit, behind its young wings, loves to get out and run.
Finally, there is Cade. He has been a monster this year, especially late. It would be ideal, of course, if he could get untracked before the fourth quarter. Cade needs to dictate the pace and style of this game to Detroit’s advantage or it could lead for an extremely frustrating evening. It will be interesting to see Cade’s fourth-quarter Beast Mode go up against a Philly defense that ranks first in opponent scoring in the final quarter. It seems like something will have to give.
Detroit is playing even more shorthanded than usual, with the regular Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser absence being joined by yet another game without Tobias Harris, and likely without Isaiah Stewart, who is listed as doubtful. Joel Embiid is also doubtful, as the Sixers are likely to sit him on the second end of a back-to-back.
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, Jalen Duren
Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre, Trenton Watford, Adem Bona.
What will Jalen Duren’s final stat line be?
See More:
* [Detroit Pistons Game Day](/detroit-pistons-game-day)
* [Pistons Previews](/pistons-game-previews)