For the second time in less than a week, the Detroit Pistons take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Detroit hosts this one, aiming to sweep the season series. That would be a sweet victory after last year’s dust-up.

The dynamic of this game will change if Anthony Edwards suits up this time around. He is questionable tonight after appearing in one of the last seven Timberwolves games. Minnesota has seven games left, and Edwards needs to play six more games to hit 65, which triggers eligibility for an All-NBA selection.

Hopefully, he is in the lineup so we can see Ausar Thompson get a chance to hound the explosive bombs away scorer. Ausar should be motivated to guard another star but stay out of foul trouble tonight. He had some success vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Ausar has to stay sharp and disciplined so he can stay on the floor.

The playoffs are at our front door. The national chatter around Detroit (assuming health) is that there is not another creator/scorer next to Cade Cunningham. Jalen Duren is starting to make that proclamation look funny in the light.

Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

“Who is gonna help Cade?” “They do not shoot it well enough,” and similar sentiments have been laid out all year. Duren has picked up the phone regarding the first question. This All-Star season is turning into an All-NBA one.

The efficiency dominance has been a steady theme. Duren’s 68.6 true shooting percentage is No. 1 in the association. He has been a paint beast all year and is now filling out his game in other ways.

The passing screams he can be a hub when teams swarm Cade. It’s understandable to question if Duren will continue to dominate with less space come playoff time due to the shooters, but maybe the Pistons have flipped a switch shooting-wise?

Over the last eight games, the Pistons have been shooting 38 percent from deep. They rank last in 3-point rate during this stretch, but shotmaking is shotmaking. It will eventually open up the floor if the shooters keep it up. Or teams will just get burned by capable shooters.

Eight games are not a huge sample, but Detroit has shooters who can go on a hot stretch. Career-wise, Duncan Robinson is a tier-one elite shooter, and Kevin Huerter is a tier-two sharpshooter. Huerter is 42 percent on six attempts over the last four games; hopefully, he has turned the corner.

Marcus Sasser has been the goods as a shooter, Daniss Jenkins is someone defenses guard, Javonte Green is a sneaky solid shooter, and Tobias Harris is respectable.

Detroit has not been consistent from deep this year, but getting hot at the right time can change the trajectory of their playoff run. Shooting is needed, but it all starts with the defense.

Ausar is the defensive engine who gets things started. His anticipation is something the league has not seen and needs to adjust to.

Do not get me wrong, Ausar can be handsy and pick up ticky tack fouls. But sometimes he gets called for stuff that elite defenders usually get away with.

Think Alex Caruso or Patrick Beverley, they get to play with a little more defensive spunk and not get called for certain fouls due to their reputation. Ausar’s defensive rep is headed in that direction, and his First Team All-Defense selection this season will expedite that process.

Julius Randle and Naz Reid will look to bounce back after the dominant Detroit defense shut them down less than a week ago. It will not be easy, but I imagine those two come out motivated. Jaden McDaniels is out again, but Ayo Dosunmu is back. He will impact the game, but that may not be enough to push Minnesota over this Pistons group, who continues to play well no matter who is on the floor.

Daniss Jenkins, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Minnesota Timberwolves (46-29):

Ayo Dosunmu, Donte DiVincenzo, Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert

Who is the worst Pistons matchup out of the four play-in teams?