Pistons matchup notes: pistons vs. Thunder preview for Feb 25, 2026
The pistons enter a difficult spot on Feb. 25, 2026, against an Oklahoma City team that is the league's top defensive unit, and the matchup column lists projected starters, team totals and an injury report that could shape rotations. The preview also includes coach comments and a set of broader NBA Matchups for the day.
Pistons projected starters
Projected starters for the Pistons are Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren.
Thunder projected starters
Projected starters for Oklahoma City are Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams. The Thunder are listed as on a B2B for this matchup.
Team totals and injury report
Team Totals were listed as Thunder 106. 5 and Pistons 114. The injury report included Isaiah Stewart with a designation of (O, suspension). Chet Holmgren received a Q tag the night before and could miss the game. The notes also referenced Isaiah Hartenstein; the preview said that if Isaiah Hartenstein suits up it would change matchups, and elsewhere used the shorthand iHart when discussing the Thunder's boards without him.
Coaches' comments and oddities
One coach note recorded that OKC uploaded Cason's interview twice instead of Daigneault. Another coach, Bickerstaff, said he thought Ron Holland II was playing well and that he played Holland over Ausar Thompson; Bickerstaff also said he thought they did a good job on Wemby and that the majority of their threes were open.
Matchup notes and statistical context
The notes emphasize that the Pistons go from facing the No. 3 defense in the Spurs to the No. 1 defense in OKC. The Pistons were 1-5 when they failed to score more than 103 points in the referenced stretch. Oklahoma City ranks first in paint defense and also ranks highly in turnovers forced, meaning they can apply sustained pressure on Cade Cunningham. It was noted that the Thunder have been inconsistent on offense, with two duds in their last three games (not counting the most recent night), and that they will face the No. 2 defense in the NBA in this matchup. The preview also warned that the Thunder may sit more guys on a back-to-back.
Specific player notes included a spike in Cason Wallace's role on Sunday — he posted 10 dimes on 14 potentials and drove it 15 times — and the suggestion that this is not an attack matchup for him, especially on a B2B, and that he may see Ausar Thompson defensively. Chet Holmgren's Q tag was repeated with the caveat that his absence would open an opportunity for Jaylin Williams, assuming Isaiah Hartenstein is out.
The preview flagged Cade Cunningham as facing a tough assignment: he was clamped by Stephon Castle in a recent game and went 2-of-12 on his drives in that contest. That matchup might be marginally easier if Hartenstein or Holmgren miss, but Lu Dort still represents a difficult defensive matchup for Cunningham. Jalen Duren's matchup was described as "very much up in the air" — if Isaiah Hartenstein suits up it improves Duren's prospects, and the Thunder have shown they are worse on the boards without iHart. A Holmgren absence would also make it easier to score around the basket. The preview concluded with a truncated note that "We’ll have the injury report for the show later, a".
NBA Matchups list and promotion
The day’s slate of six games was listed as OKC @ DET | SAS @ TOR | GSW @ MEM | SAC @ HOU | CLE @ MIL | BOS @ DEN, and the notes opened with a promotional line that ran, "The 2026 Golf Season is Underway. Access To Our Projections and Content: Mike Gallagher // Feb 25, 2026 Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown, NBA, NBA Full Stat Projections, NBA In-Season, NBA Matchups, NBA Props. " The preview encouraged access to league projections and matchup content for the in-season package.
Separately, a site message included in the material explained that the publisher had built its site to take advantage of the latest technology to make it faster and easier to use, and that users might see an unsupported browser message advising them to update for the best experience.
Closing: The available projection and matchup notes underline that the pistons face a stingy Oklahoma City defense on a B2B, with key uncertainties around Chet Holmgren's Q tag, Isaiah Hartenstein's status, and the Pistons' recent scoring vulnerabilities.
