Friday, November 18th, 2016
WHEN: 7:30 PM EST
WHERE: @TheQArena, Cleveland, Ohio
WATCH: @FOXSportsOH
LISTEN: @WMMS 100.7 FM, @wtam1100, y La Mega 87.7FM
– Cavaliers (9-2, 1st in Central): Cleveland will be looking to get back into the win column after a tough (103-93) loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.
LeBron James (rest) and J.R. Smith (ankle) both missed Wednesday night’s game. Despite being short-handed, the Cavs gave a valiant effort. Cleveland’s reserves just couldn’t overcome an early deficit.
Kevin Love led all Cleveland scorers in Wednesday night’s loss with an impressive double-double (27 points and 16 rebounds).
The Cavs will now shift their focus to another divisional foe – The Detroit Pistons. These two sides last squared off in a physical first-round playoff series, which resulted in a Cleveland sweep.
The Pistons will have their hands full again tonight, as three of Cleveland’s starters are averaging 20 or more points per game (Kyrie Irving: 23.9; LeBron James: 23.4; Kevin Love: 21.0).
Tonight’s match-up at The Q will be the first game of a three-game home stand for the Cavaliers. Cleveland is 6-1 at home this season, averaging 115.0 points per game.
* Stat *
According to ESPN, the Cavs are one of 11 teams that are generating at least 100 possessions per game.
* Cavaliers projected starting lineup (subject to change) *
(PG) Kyrie Irving (6′-3″, 193 lbs)
(SG) Richard Jefferson (6′-7″, 233 lbs)
(SF) LeBron James (6′-8″, 250 lbs)
(PF) Kevin Love (6′-10″, 251 lbs)
(PF) Tristan Thompson (6′-10″, 238 lbs)
* Cavaliers injury report *
– (SG) J.R. Smith (ankle): Questionable
– Pistons (6-6), 3rd in Central): After Wednesday night’s (105-102) defeat at the hands of the New York Knicks, Detroit has found their way into the “L” column in four of their previous six outings.
Tonight’s bout in Cleveland marks the first game of a back-to-back set for the Pistons (at CLE tonight, vs BOS tomorrow).
Tobias Harris leads all Detroit scorers coming into tonight’s match-up with the defending champs, averaging 17.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Look for Andre Drummond on the glass for the Pistons. The former UCONN Husky stand-out and 9th overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft is averaging an impressive double-double every time he takes the floor (14.9 points and 13.8 rebounds per game). Drummond’s rebounding average ranks 2nd in the NBA.
The Pistons have just one road win in seven tries, so they’ll certainly be trying to improve on that record tonight inside Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavaliers and Pistons are slated to meet three more times this season (at Detroit on 12/26, at Cleveland on 3/9, and at Cleveland on 3/14).
* Pistons projected starting lineup (subject to change) *
(PG) Ish Smith (6′-0″, 175 lbs)
(SG) Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (6′-5″, 205 lbs)
(SF) Marcus Morris (6′-9″, 235 lbs)
(PF) Tobias Harris (6′-9″, 235 lbs)
(C) Andre Drummond (6′-11″, 279 lbs)
* Pistons injury report *
– (PG) Reggie Jackson (knee, thumb): Out
– (SF) Reggie Bullock (hip, back): Questionable
* All stats and information via www.basketball-reference.com, www.rotoworld.com, www.nba.com, www.espn.com, Elias Sports Bureau, and The Associated Press *
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