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Pistons vs. Hornets Preview: Detroit looks to win third straight for the first time since 2021-2022
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Pistons vs. Hornets Preview: Detroit looks to win third straight for the first time since 2021-2022

The Detroit Pistons haven't won three games in a row since April 3, 2022, when they rattled off a pair of meaningless wins at the end of the year en route to a dismal 17-65 season. They'll have the opportunity to put together a real winning streak tonight against the Charlotte Hornets, who are coming off their third straight loss.

While a three-game winning streak may not be cause for celebration, a win tonight for the Detroit Pistons would mean more to a team that was in the midst of a 28-game losing streak this time last year than probably any other team in the world League.

Game Vitalities

When: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Regard: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit
Opportunities: Piston +1.5

analysis

The Charlotte Hornets were hit by the injury bug early in their 2024-25 season. Their incumbent starter, Mark Williams, has yet to suit up this season as he battles a foot injury he suffered before the start of training camp.

More bad news came yesterday with the news that backup center Nick Richards broke a rib in last Friday's game against the Boston Celtics, making him unavailable for the next few weeks. The Hornets are extremely thin at center, picking up minutes with Grant Williams and Taj Gibson between them, but that position will likely need to be addressed at some point if they want to keep their season going.

Over the last four games, the Hornets have allowed nearly 53 paint points and 16 second-chance points per game, ranking them in the bottom third of the league during that span. The Hornets have lost three straight games by double digits and currently have the worst defense in the league, allowing 119 points per 100 possessions. This is completely understandable given their fragility in the center position.

If the Pistons manage to win their third straight game for the first time in 948 days, the painted area on the floor should have a big impact on that result.

Detroit will look to exploit the paint against the stymied Hornets. They currently rank 11th in second-chance points (15.5 per game) and 9th overall in team rebounding. Additionally, Cade Cunningham (186 points scored) and Jaden Ivey (157 points scored) both rank in the top 20 among all guards in paint points so far this season.

Cunningham and Ivey have put together as good a season as anyone could hope to open the 2024-25 season, and they are coming off one of their most impressive doubleheaders in their careers to date. It's more than a glimmer of hope, it's the light all Pistons fans wanted to see, but it takes more than a few games to prove a concept. We look forward to them building on Monday's win and carrying this positive momentum into a very winnable stretch of games ahead.

Planned lineups

Detroit Pistons (3-5)

Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Tim Hardaway Jr., Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Charlotte Hornets (2-5)

LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Josh Green, Miles Bridges, Taj Gibson

Question of the day

What aspect of this Pistons team has impressed you most so far this season?

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