The Pistons’ 110.5 points allowed per game is barely a hair less stingy than Minnesota’s 112.0, but Detroit is missing the guard star Cade Cunningham and rookie center Jalen Duren—both GTD—so the defense will have to tighten up. “The real story here is whether Detroit can hold up a defense that’s a hair less stingy than Minnesota’s,” and the answer will show up in the paint and the paint’s paint.
At 8:00 PM EDT Thursday, Detroit (1‑1, 0‑1 on the road) will take on a 3‑1 Timberwolves squad that has yet to open its home slate. “It’s a pre‑season lab where the Timberwolves can test their lineup without the pressure of a regular season, while the Pistons look to gauge how their defense holds up without their two biggest contributors,” the matchup reads. Make your pick or join the debate on StreakChat.