The Detroit Pistons (0-1) visit the Houston Rockets (0-1) tonight at Toyota Center in Houston as both teams look to rebound from opening-night losses.

Detroit enters after a narrow 115-111 loss to the Chicago Bulls in a game that exposed their tendency to start slow. The Pistons trailed by as many as 23 points before rallying late, only to fall short in the final minutes.

Cade Cunningham looked sharp with 23 points, 10 assists, and 7 boards, while Isaiah Stewart added 20 points and 10 rebounds. But the team’s defense and transition awareness lagged through the first half.

Detroit shot 44.3% from the field, yet allowed Chicago to dictate tempo early, forcing them into chase mode most of the night. If the Pistons want to contend on the road, they’ll need a sharper opening and more cohesion on the glass, especially against Houston’s size.

The Rockets, meanwhile, dropped a 125-124 double-overtime heartbreaker to the Oklahoma City Thunder but left a strong impression in the debut of their retooled roster.

Alperen Sengun has clearly taken his game to another level, dominating inside with 39 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Kevin Durant produced 23 points and 9 boards in his first game for Houston before he fouled out late.

The Rockets’ biggest issue wasn’t effort — it was execution. They turned the ball over 22 times and hit just 28% from beyond the arc, miscues that cost them in a game they led for stretches. Still, the size and versatility of Sengun and Durant gave the Thunder problems all night, showing why Houston’s frontcourt will be among the most dangerous in the West.

Tonight’s matchup pits Detroit’s young backcourt talent against Houston’s veteran front-court power. If Cunningham can control tempo and get early help from Ausar Thompson, the Pistons have a chance to neutralize the Rockets’ interior advantage. But if Detroit’s defense once again takes too long to find rhythm, Houston’s bigs could dominate the paint and send the Pistons to 0-2.

Predictions

Houston’s size and home court give them the edge, but Detroit’s energy and youth may keep this tight.

Prediction: Rockets 117, Pistons 109

Injury Report

Detroit Pistons

Jaden Ivey — Out (right knee)

Caris LeVert — Probable (right knee soreness)

Marcus Sasser — Doubtful (right hip impingement)

Houston Rockets

Fred VanVleet — Out (right knee injury)

Dorian Finney-Smith — Out (left ankle)

Isaiah Crawford — Questionable (left ankle)

Jae’Sean Tate — Questionable (right ankle)

How to Watch Pistons vs. Rockets

Tip-off for tonight’s Detroit Pistons vs. Houston Rockets game is set for 8:00 PM Eastern / 7:00 PM Central at Toyota Center in Houston.

The game airs live locally on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit and Space City Home Network.

Fans in the Pistons broadcast market without a FanDuel Sports Network subscription can purchase one on Amazon here.

Out-of-market viewers can stream the matchup on NBA League Pass for free on Amazon Prime Video with a 7-day free trial here.

Amazon also offers a discounted subscription that starts at $12.74 for the first two months (then $16.99/month). The subscription also includes access to NBA TV.

Fans can also choose a Team Pass to follow one team’s games for $13.99 per month.

Detroit Pistons vs. Houston Rockets

Date: Friday, October 24, 2025

Time: 8:00 PM Eastern / 7:00 PM Central

Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

TV: Space City Home Network

Streaming: NBA League Pass (out-of-market)