Pistons vs Nets preview: Detroit’s 1st NBA Cup Game

SB Nation

It’s clear as day what’s going to happen if a Detroit Pistons game goes down to the wire. Their star shines bright, and he’s arguably been the best player in clutch time three weeks into the season.

There

shouldn’t be a need for clutch baskets and hero ball against the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn is in the midst of a rebuild that hasn’t gotten off the ground yet. They are 1-7, and there’s little to be optimistic about from a Nets fan POV besides the 2026 draft. But as we all know, being the worst team in the league doesn’t guarantee a top-3 pick anymore.

Detroit has handled its soft matchups this year, and Brooklyn needs that same treatment. With the matchup being an Emirates NBA Cup game, there’s even more incentive for Detroit to come out guns blazing and crank out a double-digit victory dub.

Game Vitals

When: 7:30 p.m. EST
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -10.5

Analysis

Brooklyn is in a weird spot, but you still have to respect anyone who steps on the hardwood. Though the Nets don’t have anyone who will strike real fear in the top-tier Pistons defenders, they’re still NBA players with pride.

That said, the Nets’ rebuild is off to a sloth start. None of their 5 first round picks from the 2025 draft are playing well. Egor Demin is their only rookie who’s played 100 minutes so far, and 31 of his 36 field goal attempts have been 3-pointers (he’s 6-foot-9). That’s discouraging for a team starting its rebuild. This franchise is more worried about scouting Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cam Boozer than winning basketball games.

Detroit couldn’t be further from that side of the winner’s spectrum. While this team is getting that “losers” smut off its name, it is also becoming synonymous with defense—stocks in particular.

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We know the Pistons rank high in steals and blocks this year, and Ausar Thompson is the stock man as a wing. Isaiah Stewart is first in total blocks if only mortal humans are included.

Besides those counting stats, the Pistons’ defense moves as a closed fist in the halfcourt. They’re a together unit that flies around making up for each other. Detroit’s giving up a measly 88.9 points per 100 in the halfcourt, according to Cleaning the Glass (2nd behind Miami).

The offense hasn’t operated with the same we’re all in this together mentality during crunch time. At least scoring-wise. When it’s winning time, give Cade Cunningham the ball and get out of the way.

You could do that, but Detroit still tries to get Cade a head start attacking rotating defenses when others bring the ball up and Cade is in scorer mode, Iverson cutting to the other side of the floor ready to attack.

Even if Cade can’t attack a moving defense, it still hasn’t mattered. The shotmaking down the stretch of games has been bonkers. He’s shooting over lengthy defenders, Barkleying to the post, and getting to the rim at will. His 86 fourth-quarter points are No. 1 in the Association.

This type of play from the Pistons star will lead to an All-NBA Cup team and possibly the MVP of the whole thing. This Emirates NBA Cup is still relatively new, but players seem to play as hard, and the Bucks celebrated like it mattered last year. More money and competitive bragging rights will do that.

Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. are the Brooklyn “stars” who haven’t helped this team be super competitive this year. They’re both scoring as much as they can, but making plays for others isn’t their game. Thomas is out in this one anyway with a hamstring injury.

Assists aren’t the end-all be-all for playmaking, but Nets center Nic Claxton leads Brooklyn in APG at 3.8. There is nothing inherently wrong with a big man leading the squad in assists, but Claxton isn’t a Jokić/Sabonis/Şengün type of center. He’s a roll man lob threat, so that Brooklyn trend is concerning—especially after they drafted four guards in the first round.

With Brooklyn’s glaring deficiencies (30th defense, 23rd offense) and Detroit’s uptick in most things across the board, this game should be in control quickly if Detroit sticks to its guns.

Keep smothering offenses, keep Jalen Duren on his Shaq attack stuff, and keep the ball in Deuce’s hands if the game is in the line.