Riding an active three-game winning streak, the Detroit Pistons (28-9) are geared up for an opportunity to serve up a batch of home cooking to the visiting Los Angeles Clippers (14-23). During Detroit’s West Coast road swing three weeks ago, the Pistons suffered a 112-99 loss to the Clippers on the road, and Kawhi Leonard was impossible to handle during what was a 55-point explosion for the veteran All-Star forward. 

This time up, the Pistons are hoping to repay the favor with a victory of their own, but the Detroit squad is admittedly ailing with a few injury woes to contend with. Despite that fact, the Pistons have weathered the storm thus far with several wins in a row, so Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has his hands full for a tricky matchup later tonight. 

Over the last five games, the Clippers have alternated wins and losses on the way to a 3-2 record in that timespan, and Leonard has cooled off considerably since the Pistons last saw him. Leonard posted 30 and 40-point performances directly after dropping 55 on Detroit in December, but he’s operating more in the mid-20s lately, so that is still quality production but far from the level the Pistons were subjected to recently.

In their last game, the Clippers logged a 121-105 win over the Brooklyn Nets, which is not too impressive on the surface since the Nets only have 11 wins this season. However, the Clippers executed a defensive clinic and held Brooklyn to just 47 points in the first half, and James Harden’s 31-point night was able to seal the LA win from there. 

Harden has stepped his game up from a scoring perspective this year, averaging 25.6 points per game this season himself, and he’s been more efficient in the process as well. Against the Nets, Harden went 10-for-13 from the field, so the dangerous on-ball shot creator has been even more selective offensively of late. 

The Pistons will be battling the injury report in addition to the Clippers tonight with Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren already slated to miss the contest ahead of tip-off. Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham is listed as questionable with a sprained right wrist, so his status is still up in the air. 

As for the Clippers, both Bradley Beal and Derrick Jones are out long-term and will not factor into tonight’s matchup, while guard Bogdan Bogdanovic is expected to miss the game with a hamstring injury that could be resolved sooner rather than later. Still, the Clippers are expected to play without that trio for tonight’s game. 

UPDATE: The Pistons have added Isaiah Stewart to their injury report as questionable, and Kawhi Leonard now sports that same designation from the Clippers. 

PRE-GAME UPDATE: Cunningham and Stewart have both been downgraded to out. 

READ MORE: The Pistons Struck Gold With Rookie Chaz Lanier

So far this season, the Pistons have proven that their style of basketball is difficult to replicate. Detroit’s brand of play is predicated on a rugged defense and a fast-paced transition offense, and the team has been able to carry their close bonds from off the court over onto the hardwood as well. 

To that effect, Bickerstaff spoke about how deep the Pistons are and what type of mentality he has noticed from every player on the squad. 

“It's a bunch of guys who are willing to put their self to the side to do what's right by the team and by their teammates. You know, again, I can't speak about all the things that they do that you guys don't get the opportunity to see to put themselves in position to be ready when their number's called. The countless amount of hours in the gym, in the weight room, recovery, studying film, even though it may be games that they don't go in but they're still studying the film. They're still preparing themselves to go out there. So the commitment to each other, it's special, and it's a blessing for me to be a part of it.”

The last time the Pistons and Clippers faced off, Kawhi Leonard went off for an absurd 55-point performance after getting Ausar Thompson into foul trouble early. This time out, stopping Leonard needs to be priority No. 1 for Detroit on defense. However, Detroit will have to fend with a couple absences to the starting lineup tonight once again, so the Pistons have a few focus points to juggle against Los Angeles. 

If the Pistons have their way, then tonight will go a bit differently for Leonard. Look for Detroit to try out a few defensive coverages that did not get as much use the last time the Pistons and Clippers faced off. Detroit is more than capable defensively, so the Pistons will likely relish the opportunity to right a wrong that still lives fresh in their memory. 

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