The Detroit Pistons need a win tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers with the series leaning in the Cavs’ direction at 3-2
After the Detroit Pistons were unable to pull off an overtime victory in game five’s 117-113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the top seed in the Eastern Conference is back in a familiar position— on the verge of postseason elimination.
The Pistons are taking a 3-2 deficit into tonight’s win-or-go-home contest, so the stakes could not be higher for tonight’s Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup. To make matters even worse for Detroit, game six will take place away from the friendly confines of Little Caesars Arena, so the Pistons will have both the Cavs and their home crowd working against the 60-win outfit from the regular season.
As for the actual game, the Pistons could be without a key starter for game six after Duncan Robinson was held out of Wednesday’s battle due to lower back soreness, and his status is questionable for the time being. During the regular season, Robinson was one of the Pistons’ most consistent (and prolific) long-range contributors with over two connections from three-point range per game, so his expertise from beyond the arc is crucial for a Detroit unit that struggled from downtown all year long.
Without Robinson in the lineup last time out, the Pistons opted to start Daniss Jenkins at the two guard spot, and the second-year player posted 17 points in a game that may be remembered for its controversial no-call at the end of regulation.
In addition to Robinson’s ailment, Kevin Huerter is still listed on the injury report after missing multiple games in the first and second round. But despite a nagging left adductor strain, Huerter checked into game six briefly for a three-minute cameo, though he was held scoreless in Detroit’s four-point OT loss, so the veteran wing still needs time to regain his rhythm from the end of the regular season.
Finally, the Pistons may be without their surprise standout scorer from game six as Caris LeVert continues to battle a right heel contusion. But regardless of that injury, LeVert posted his most impactful game of his short Pistons career with 24 points, 17 of which came in the first half against the Cavs on Wednesday. For most of the season, LeVert had been used as a secondary playmaker on Detroit’s reserve unit, but the Michigan product rose to the occasion during game five as the Pistons’ leading scorer, so it would be an impactful absence if LeVert is unable to suit up later tonight.
The Cavs, on the other hand, are a beacon of health at the moment without a single player listed on the injury report. Cleveland sharp-shooter Sam Merrill fought through a hamstring injury earlier in the series, so the Cavs have managed to avoid being bitten by the injury bug during the second round tilt.
Now, the Pistons battled back from a 3-1 deficit in the opening round of the postseason against the Orlando Magic, so Detroit will have to tap into that brand of urgency if they want to continue duking it out in the playoffs. Whoever wins this series will be set to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals after the former Pistons playoff adversary took care of business against the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round.
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