For the Oklahoma City Thunder to achieve the prestigious milestone of a 70-win season, accomplished only by the Steph Curry-led Warriors and Michael Jordan’s Bulls, they must secure victories consistently. It remains unclear how badly they desire this feat, yet their determination shows as the regular season concludes—they currently stand at an impressive 25-3 record with ten consecutive wins under their belt. Leading them is the frontrunner for Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons face challenges tonight with key players sidelined; Cade Cunningham continues his recovery from injury, while Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland, and Marcus Sasser sit out following suspensions stemming from the recent altercation during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves .
Should the Pistons miraculously turn things around, it would likely stem from the surplus of positive energy and favorable sentiments carried over from their initial matchup with this opponent. During that contest, Detroit put up an impressive fight despite facing the top team in the league. Unfavorable calls disrupted their progress; Cade Cunningham was disqualified, the Pistons accumulated five technical fouls, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander alone attempted ten foul shots, compared to just thirteen for the entire Pistons squad. Following the match,JB Bickerstaff gained widespread attention after he vociferously criticized the officials, describing their performance during the game as "repugnant."
Justice for the Pistons?
Game Vitals
When: 9:30 p.m. ET
Where: The Paycom Center, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Watch: ESPN
Odds: Pistons +13
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (42-33)
Dennis Schroeder, Tim Hardaway Jr., Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Oklahoma City Thunder (63-12)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein