The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off another close win over the Boston Celtics and, just as importantly, two days of much-needed rest. They’ll travel to Detroit to face the Pistons in their second NBA
Cup game of the season. The Sixers lost their first matchup against the Celtics in October, making this game a key part of their in-season tournament pursuit.
This will be the second time the Sixers face the Pistons, meeting just a few days earlier when Detroit defeated Philadelphia 111-108. The Pistons currently hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 10-2 record. Much of their success stems from Cade Cunningham, who is putting together another spectacular season. Through 11 games, Cunningham is averaging 27.5 points and 9.9 assists per game, though his efficiency has been uneven. In their last matchup, he posted 26 points and 11 assists, making several key plays down the stretch.
His running mate, Jalen Duren, has also taken a leap this season and looks on pace for an All-Star nod. Duren is averaging 19.2 points and 12 rebounds on 64.7 percent shooting. The Sixers struggled to contain him on the boards in the previous game, making that a critical area to watch in this rematch.
Both Cunningham and Duren didn’t play in their last matchup against Chicago and are listed on the injury report for this game. Their statuses will be worth monitoring as tip-off approaches. As of now, Cunningham is questionable with a left hip contusion, and Duren is questionable with a right ankle sprain.
Reserve big Isaiah Stewart, who missed the Sixers-Pistons matchup earlier this week, is also questionable with an ankle sprain. Detroit will be without Tobias Harris (ankle sprain), Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser and Ausar Thompson (ankle sprain).
This season, the Pistons rank 14th in offensive rating but do most of their damage on the defensive end, where they sit in the top three. The Sixers, meanwhile, have the fifth-best offensive rating but rank 19th in defensive efficiency.
The Sixers are coming from several days off, which is a rarity early in this NBA schedule.
Regarding injuries, Paul George remains out as he continues recovering from a left knee procedure. Joel Embiid will also miss this matchup with right knee soreness. The team noted there’s no structural damage and that he’s day-to-day, so this appears to be a cautious approach.
VJ Edgecombe is a new addition to the injury report and is questionable with back spasms. Interestingly, two-way guard Hunter Sallis is also listed as questionable for two-way designation reasons rather than an injury. Dominick Barlow is not listed on the report, which means he’ll be available for this game.
As mentioned earlier, this is an NBA Cup game and will be crucial for keeping the Sixers’ in-season tournament hopes alive. Although they dropped their first game, it was by just one point. Point differential carries a lot of weight in these matchups, so a win tonight would go a long way toward keeping their tournament hopes alive despite starting 0-1.
Whether you’re tuning in for the in-season tournament or just for a marquee NBA matchup, it should be an exciting game. The Pistons are playing well this year, and the Sixers need a victory against a team sitting comfortably above .500. Let’s see if they can get it done.
Game Details
When: Friday, November 14, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelpia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
