The clock is ticking on the Detroit Pistons’ 2025-26 season much earlier than anticipated. Detroit faces elimination against an imposing Orlando Magic defense and, frankly, the Pistons’ nonchalance and self-immolation. Fun fact: the Pistons are holding Orlando to the worst field goal percentage in the NBA Playoffs and averaging nearly four more blocks per game than the next closest team. Detroit’s problem is that its field goal percentage is fourth-worst, and they are combining that poor shooting
with 18.3 turnovers per game. If Detroit could get out of its own way and hit a few shots, they’d be the team up 3-1. Do I have confidence they can reverse those trends? Not really.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Prime Video
Odds: Pistons -9.5
Analysis
Look, you have to start Jalen Duren to see if he can finally break out of his offensive funk. But if he struggles again with positioning, penetration, turnovers, and general ineffectiveness, you have to pull him and pull him quickly. Detroit is out of time trying to be cute or deferential to the guys who brought them to the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Because they are about to be the No. 1 seed in the playoffs that got bounced in the first round.
Cade Cunningham must get a handle on his handle and turn the corner on his penchant for careless turnovers. If Cunningham performs like has been and also cuts his turnovers by half, Detroit probably wins this game comfortably. That’s how slim the margins have been despite each feeling like such crushing defeats because Detroit is playing so far below the standard they’ve set for themselves all season.
Three positive signs for Detroit that I’ll cling to as I strap in for game 5: 1. The Pistons are playing in the frinedly confines of Little Caesars Arena. This crowd is just looking for something to cheer their heads off for, and the Pistons simply need to deliver. 2. Franz Wagner, who has played very well on both ends as a beefy wing who is adept at slowing down both Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren will at least be limited and might even sit out tonight’s game with a calf strain 3. Isaiah Stewart is playing out of his mind on the defensive end so if you sit Duren, you can be confident in his backup.
Does that mean I think the Pistons will win tonight? For me, it’s almost immaterial. The Pistons have shown in these playoffs what they are and, more importantly, what they are not. What they are not is a team that can challenge the best teams in the East for the right to go to the NBA Finals. That’s not too different than the POV I had entering the playoffs so the best I can say is that it should be an interesting offseason. A first-round win at least represents marginal progress from last year and gets yet another long-running streak off their ledger. It’d be nice. I’m rooting for nice and expecting … not that.
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (1-3)
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Orlando Magic (3-1)
Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner (questionable), Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.
Question of the Game
Do you think Caris LeVert can save Detroit’s season?
