4 months ago
- Cavaliers
- Published: Jan. 04, 2026, 5:02 a.m.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Pistons (25-9) beryllium atop nan Eastern Conference by leaning difficult into a beingness identity, 1 forged nether erstwhile Cavs caput coach J.B. Bickerstaff and his defense-first blueprint.
Detroit enters Sunday’s 2 p.m. Eastern extremity against nan Cavs (20-16) astatine Rocket Arena looking to moreover nan play bid aft dropping nan first gathering to Cleveland.
The Pistons person imposed their will connected astir opponents this season. But Sunday comes pinch a twist. The Pistons will beryllium without Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren and Caris LeVert.
The absence that looms largest is Duren’s. His rim pressure, second-jump athleticism and rebounding beingness are nan motor down Detroit’s expertise to triumph ugly.
And recently, Cleveland has softly started to re-center itself astir size. The Cavs person leaned much consistently into their two-big alignment, utilizing Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley arsenic some a beingness antagonistic and a structural one.
Against teams for illustration Detroit, it’s little astir spacing elegance and much astir controlling nan paint, finishing protect possessions and making spot a two-way conversation.
Whether that scheme holds depends, successful part, connected Allen’s status. He’s questionable pinch an unwellness that has been making its measurement done nan locker room, a reminder that wintertime games trial extent arsenic overmuch arsenic schemes. Dean Wade and Sam Merrill are besides questionable.
None of that softens nan quality of this matchup. Cavs–Pistons games are seldom clean. They’re scrappy, affectional and defined by who throws nan first punch and who tin return 1 without losing their shape.
Detroit thrives connected dislodging opponents from their comfortableness zones. Cleveland, during a play filled pinch uneven stretches and forced adjustments, has been learning really to respond without spiraling.
Those lessons show up successful loose-ball recoveries, successful 2nd efforts aft a missed rotation, successful nan patience to support playing nan agelong crippled erstwhile nan crippled turns into a grind.
Another 1 of those tests is coming Sunday, and it’s coming successful a large way.
- The Cavs are learning really to grip adversity now — and it will determine their playoff fate
- Why 1 crippled won’t — and shouldn’t — alteration Cavs’ rotation plans
- Why nan Cavs can’t spend games wherever Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley slice away
How to watch nan Cavs: See really to watch nan Cavs games pinch this handy game-by-game TV schedule.
Here’s what to cognize astir nan matchup:
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons
Series: Second of 4 matchups successful nan regular season.
Where: Rocket Arena
When: 2 p.m. ET.
The constituent spread: Cavs minus-5.5; O/U 235.5
TV: FanDuel Sports Network - Ohio
Injury report
Cavs
Questionable:
- Jarrett Allen (illness)
- Sam Merrill (left ankle; sprain)
- Dean Wade (left knee; contusion)
Out:
- Chris Livingston (G League – Two-Way)
- Larry Nance Jr. (right calf; strain)
- Max Strus (left foot; Jones fracture surgery)
- Luke Travers (G League – Two-Way)
Pistons
Out:
- Jalen Duren (right ankle; sprain)
- Tobias Harris (left hip; sprain)
- Isaac Jones (G League – On Assignment)
- Bobi Klintman (G League – On Assignment)
- Caris LeVert (left knee; tendinopathy)
- Wendell Moore Jr. (G League – Two-Way)
Ethan Sands is simply a sports journalist and podcast big for Cleveland.com, wherever he covers nan Cleveland Cavaliers and hosts nan Wine and Gold Talk podcast. Since joining successful October 2023, Sands has provided...
