Detroit Pistons vs. Thunder preview (Game 76 of 82)

  • Detroit Pistons (42-33) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (63-12)
  • When: Wednesday, 02 April 2025 at 8:30pm CSTS
  • Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Offensive Rating – DET: 114.6 (12th) / OKC: 119.2 (3rd)
  • Defensive Rating – DET: 112.0 (10th) / OKC: 106.0 (1st)
  • Net Rating – DET: 2.6 (11th) / OKC: 13.2 (1st)

The Set-Up
Greatness. It’s a combination of many variables that allows a team to be called great. The Oklahoma City Thunder had a previous iteration that many people considered great. The Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka teams may have been great, talent-wise, but did they lack that greatness mindset that other teams may have possessed. Think about the Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson Warriors. Great team, but a greatness mindset to match. The Jordan, Pippen, Rodman Bulls. Same thing. I think this is where we stand with this current iteration of the Thunder. A great team with a mindset to match.

This is the second and final meeting of the season between these two teams. The Thunder won the first meeting in Detroit, 113-107. It has been one of the more tighter games for the Thunder after the All-Star Break.

Betting Info

  • Line: OKC -13.5
  • O/U: 232.5
  • Injury Report

    OKC
  • Alex Caruso – Questionable (ankle)
  • Ousmane Dieng – OUT (calf)
  • Alex Ducas – OUT (quad)
  • Ajay Mitchell – OUT (toe)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (knee)
  • Aaron Wiggins – OUT (Achilles)

    DET
  • Cade Cunningham – OUT (calf)
  • Tobias Harris – Questionable (Achilles)
  • Ron Holland II – OUT (suspension)
  • Jaden Ivey – OUT (leg)
  • Marcus Sasser – OUT (suspension)
  • Isaiah Stewart – OUT (suspension)

Three Big Things

1. Take Care of Business – The Pistons are likely going to be missing key pieces of their rotation in this game. Isaiah Stewart and Ron Holland II are out after their suspensions from the fracas against the Timberwolves a couple of nights ago. Cade Cunningham is likely out due to a calf issue. If the Thunder play their game, this baby may be over by halftime.

2. Rebounding – Probably about the only statistic where the Pistons have a leg up on the Thunder is rebounding. But that’s with a full roster. With Cunningham and Stewart out, the responsibility of manning the boards may fall solely on Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris, who is coming back from injury. The Pistons may not have the personnel to exhibit dominance in this area tonight.

3. J-Dub, All-NBA? – With this game, Jalen Williams officially reaches 65 games played for the season. He’s already seen his first All-Star game appearance this season. Is he now in line for a spot on one of the three All-NBA teams? It’ll be close and he may literally be the first guy outside of the 15 players on the All-NBA teams. But his play on both ends of the floor may be the determining factor that gets him on one of the All-NBA teams. His versatility on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor may get him the nod over someone who may only play one end of the floor.