Tip-Off: 6 PM CT
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live-tweets and discussion during the game
The Oklahoma City Thunder is coming off their worst lost of the season—a 133-85 decision to the Portland Trail Blazers—and their worst two-game stretch of the season—2 losses by a combined 85 points. Tonight should offer a more reasonable competition as the Thunder takes on the Detroit Pistons at home.
The Pistons have been bad for a while, and this year is no exception. At 14-35, Detroit is last in the Eastern Conference with the 3rd worst record in the entire NBA. Still, the Thunder continues to be hampered by injuries, and just this morning they waived Justin Jackson. Based upon the most recent injury report, that leaves just 8 active players available for tonight’s game, so it will be interesting to see how our guys fare.
On the bright side, Hamidou Diallo makes his first return to the ‘Peake since being traded a few weeks ago. Diallo started his career in OKC, and as a fan-favorite, it will be nice to see him back, even if it is in a different uniform. Jerami Grant also makes his return to OKC. Grant was traded 2 years ago to the Nuggets, where he played a season before ending up in Detroit.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Théo Maledon
- SG: Svi Mykhailiuk
- SF: Aleksej Pokuševski
- PF: Tony Bradley
- C: Moses Brown
Pistons
- PG: Saben Lee
- SG: Josh Jackson
- SF: Saddiq Bey
- PF: Jerami Grant
- C: Isaiah Stewart
Injuries
Thunder
- Darius Bazley is OUT (left shoulder contusion).
- Luguentz Dort is OUT (concussion protocol).
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is OUT (plantar fascitis in right foot).
- Josh Hall is OUT (concussion protocol).
- Mike Muscala is OUT (sprained right ankle).
- Isaiah Roby is OUT (concussion protocol).
Pistons
- Wayne Ellington is OUT (rest).
- Rodney McGruder is OUT (sprained right elbow).
- Jahlil Okafor is OUT (left knee surgery).
- Mason Plumlee is OUT (rest).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 18-5 against the Pistons (10-2 at home, 8-3 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Pistons 7 times, lost it 0 times, and tied it 5 times.
- The Thunder won the season series 2-0 last year (1-0 at home, 1-0 on the road).
- The Thunder has won 3 in a row against the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.