The Washington Wizards are set to play its first game post-Anthony Davis trade with the second matchup of the season against the Detroit Pistons
Washington Wizards (13-36, 4-19 at away) vs. Detroit Pistons (37-12, 20-5 at home)
When: Thursday, Feb. 5, 7:00 PM
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
TV: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
After a chaotic Wednesday that featured trade rumors and interest before and after another marquee trade by the Wizards front office, Washington is set to return to the court on Thursday after completing its five-game homestand with a 31-point loss against the New York Knicks on Tuesday.
Thursday marks the second matchup of the season against Detroit after the Pistons took a 137-135 finish in Detroit back on Nov. 10 to hand Washington its ninth consecutive loss, while the teams are set to meet twice over the span of three days in mid-March to end the season series.
But Thursday's result may look a lot different than the first competitive matchup with Detroit entering tipoff as winners in nine of their last 11 games and with a comfortable five-game lead over both the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.
It also does not help that Washington enters tipoff with a depleted roster thanks to Wednesday's trade.
Washington has 11 active players as of Thursday morning now that Marvin Bagley, Malaki Branham, AJ Johnson and Khris Middleton are no longer with the team. Tre Johnson remains sidelined with a left ankle sprain that he suffered in the win against the Milwaukee Bucks last week, joining Cam Whitmore and Trae Young on the injury report. Skal Labissiere was also sent to the Capital City Go-Go for Wednesday's game and is ruled out on the injury report, though one boost in the frontcourt is the return of Tristan Vukcevic, who has been cleared from the injury report and appears in line to receive his first minutes since Jan. 14.
Detroit will be without Dario Saric, Tolu Smith and Daniss Jenkins while both Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris are ruled questionable ahead of tipoff due to right wrist and left hip soreness.
The Pitsons' depth is also hit after a three-team trade earlier in the week sent Jaden Ivey to Chicago, while both Kevin Huerter and Saric remain sidelined due to the pending trade, though Huerter officially drew a questionable tag in Thursday's injury report.
After suffering a pair of 31-point losses with the span of one week, how the short-handed Wizards battle against a hot Pistons team will be one to watch.
Washington will look to avoid a two-game slide before returning to the East Coast to face the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.