The Detroit Pistons will have Cade Cunningham back in the lineup as they look to end a three-game skid, including an embarrassing loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. They played that game without their star point guard, and it showed. Having him back will be a boon to their offense, but their defense will once again be without Ausar Thompson, who will miss his second consecutive game with an ankle sprain. Also out of the lineup is Caris LeVert, who sprained his wrist in the loss to the Nets. I
never want to wish injury against anybody, but in my humble opinion, the Pistons’ bench had been far too reliant on LeVert as an initiator with far too little to show for it. If LeVert misses time, it will at least give other guys an opportunity and a responsibility to make the offense work in Cade’s absence. However, with another ball handler out, that means Detroit doesn’t have the luxury of inserting Daniss Jenkins, the team’s only other reliable ball handler, in the starting lineup alongside Cunningham. Instead, they will turn to Marcus Sasser for the second consecutive game. Let’s hope he rediscovers his 3-point stroke and his offensive aggression. The Heat, meanwhile, will be without the services of Norm Powell and Andrew Wiggins.
Game Vitals
When: 6 p.m. ET
Where: Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida
Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -2.5
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (45-17)
Cade Cunningham, Marcus Sasser, Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Miami Heat (35-29)
Davion Mitchell, Tyler Herro, Pelle Larsson, Myron Gardner, Bam Adebayo
