Eastern Conference foes meet Thursday night for the third time this season, as the Detroit Pistons host the Philadelphia 76ers at Little Caesars Arena.
Both teams have dropped four of their first six games of the month. The 76ers (35–30, 8th East) just secured a home win against the Grizzlies on Tuesday, but they head to Motor City missing several key starters — the injury report features superstar guard Tyrese Maxey. The Pistons (46–18, 1st East) aim to keep building momentum after they snapped an uncharacteristic four-game skid by annihilating the Nets in Brooklyn on Tuesday.
Detroit leads the four-game season series, 2–0, and the teams meet again on Thursday for the first time since mid-November.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Philadelphia 76ers
- OUT: Tyrese Maxey (Finger), Joel Embiid (Oblique), Paul George (Suspension), Kelly Oubre Jr. (Elbow), Adem Bona (Back), Johni Broome (Knee)
- QUESTIONABLE: Andre Drummond (Back)
Detroit Pistons
- OUT: Ausar Thompson (Ankle), Caris LeVert (Wrist), Bobi Klintman (Coach’s Decision)
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Detroit enters as a staggering 15.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Philadelphia sits as a +750 underdog. The game’s total is set at 222.5 points.
76ers vs. Pistons Preview
Philadelphia 76ers Preview
Tune in for Thursday’s episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: “The Gang Gets Injured.”
The 76ers head down to Detroit missing four of their top five starters — a laundry list of inactives headlined by All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, who suffered a finger tendon injury on Saturday. Former MVP Joel Embiid and Kelly Oubre Jr. are also sidelined, and Paul George is serving his suspension. Leading rebounder Andre Drummond is listed as questionable, as well.
Maxey’s absence has further strained a Philadelphia squad that ranks 25th in net rating since the beginning of March. While the Sixers are coming off a win, the Grizzlies are far from formidable — especially compared to the conference-best Pistons. Just a night prior, the Maxey-less squad received a 14-point thumping in Cleveland.
That’s not to say that Philadelphia is hopeless. Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe is one of the league’s brightest rising stars, and Quentin Grimes has performed well in an expanded role. Meanwhile, veteran guard Cam Payne is coming off a legacy game against the Grizzlies — dropping a career-high 32 points (9-for-10 FG, 8-for-8 3PT), 10 assists, three steals, and two blocks off the bench in Tuesday’s win over the Grizzlies.
Detroit Pistons Preview
March hasn’t been kind to the Eastern Conference leaders.
Detroit — which boasted the NBA’s top winning percentage before the calendar flipped — recently endured a brutal four-game skid, trimming its once-comfortable lead over the Celtics to just 3.5 games.
The Pistons own a middling 12th-ranked net rating in March, punctuated by an ignominious home loss to the woeful Nets. Detroit avenged that defeat with a 38-point demolition in Brooklyn on Tuesday, but it will need to keep building on that momentum to hold off the Celtics and Knicks.
Fortunately, they’ll have a chance to do so in a favorable matchup in front of a rowdy home crowd in Motor City — one of the top homecourt advantages in the NBA. Detroit will lean on its tenacious defense and impressive depth, bolstered by its All-Star duo of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
76ers vs. Pistons Pick, Best Bet
While it might have worked against the Grizzlies, don’t expect the understaffed 76ers to keep up with the mighty Eastern Conference leaders. Count on the Pistons to overwhelm their shorthanded opponent, cruising to a dominant, spread-covering victory at home.
