The Portland Trail Blazers are facing off against the Detroit Pistons at home in the first game of a long five-game homestand. Portland is coming into this game off the back of two straight wins over the Sacramento
Kings, and on a three-game win streak all together.
On the other side, Detroit currently sits atop the Eastern Conference and is coming off of a win over the Charlotte Hornets. The Pistons are starting their long road trip in Portland and will not play at home again until 2026.
What you need to Know
Portland Trail Blazers (12-16) vs Detroit Pistons (22-6) – Mon. Dec 22nd – 7:00pm Pacific
How to watch via antenna or cable: See your options on the Rip City Television Network.
How to watch via streaming: BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington; League Pass everywhere else
How to listen: Rip City Radio 620AM
Trail Blazers Injuries: Scoot Henderson, Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley, Jrue Holiday (out), Jerami Grant (questionable).
Pistons Injuries: Jalen Duren (probable); Ron Holland II (questionable).
What to Watch For:
Momentum Building? The Blazers have won three straight games over the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings. Now they head home to start a long home stretch. On paper, that sounds like a chance to build on that momentum and pick up another win. In reality, however, they face the Eastern Conference’s top team. There are few worse ways to get stopped in your tracks than coming face-to-face with a buzzsaw.
The last time these two teams met, Portland almost stole a win on the road despite all their injuries. Will they be able to replicate that performance and possibly come away with a win? Or will Detroit continue their early season dominance by sweeping the season series.
Battle of the Bigs. Donovan Clingan will go head-to-head with one of the NBA’s premier big men in Jalen Duren, assuming the latter plays with his current probable distinction. Clingan is averaging 10.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game this season and Duren is averaging 18.0 points and 11.0 rebounds. The pair can both rebound in bunches and are key factors in their teams both being top-10 in the NBA in rebounding. If either center can slow down the other, it could lead to a massive advantage for their team.
What Others are Saying:
Robbie Bettelon of Detroit Bad Boys writes about how this Pistons team is struggling with an issue the Blazers will find all too familiar:
This team needs more shooters.
They have one guy I would classify as a “shooter,” a bunch of guys who can make a three, and a bunch of guys whose shooting isn’t feared by opposing teams.
Detroit has two players (Duncan, Cade) who are attempting at least six three-pointers per game. Ten teams only have one player while the Grizzlies have none.
The Pistons rank 28th in the league in 3PM, 27th in 3PA, and 21st in 3PT%. Yet, they’re 1st in 2PM and 4th in 2PA. They’re 5th in FTM and 3rd in FTA while being 28th in FT%.
