The Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves could be a terrific matchup, but it’d be even better if both sides had healthy lineups. Unfortunately, neither do. Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart, effectively the first and fourth(?) most important members of the Pistons, are out. For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Ayo Dosunmu will be absent. You can consider Edwards and McDaniels as fulfilling similar roles to Cunningham and Stewart (though as Minny’s best defender, he’s probably closer to Ausar Thompson), and Donsunmu is like Daniss Jenkins and Marcus Sasser combined. Those absences for the Wolves mean we will see veteran Mike Conley and second-year player Terrence Shannon Jr. enter the starting lineup. The game also has big NBA Draft implications, because the Pistons have the right to swap first-rounders in this year’s draft. Currently, the Wolves are in slot No. 22, and Detroit owns pick No. 28. A Pistons win can do nothing but help because Minnesota can’t fall enough in the standings to keep their pick.
When: 5:30 p.m. ET
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Watch: ABC/ Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons -1.5
Daniss Jenkins, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Minnesota Timberwolves (45-28)
Mike Conley, Donte DiVincenzo, Terence Shannon, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert