Cavaliers Vs Pistons: Pistons vs Cavaliers Discussion and cavaliers vs pistons preview

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 28, 2026 6:28 AM ET

Cavaliers Vs Pistons: Pistons vs Cavaliers Discussion and cavaliers vs pistons preview

The cavaliers vs pistons matchup in Detroit comes with a long list of absences for Cleveland and a clear chance for Detroit to press an advantage. The Cavs arrive without much of their usual firepower, while the Pistons have returned a suspended player and a projected starting five for tonight.

Cavaliers Vs Pistons lineup notes

The Detroit Pistons are playing another contending team missing much of its most potent firepower. One game after dispatching (though it wasn’t easy) the Oklahoma City Thunder B Team, they get another reserve-filled opponent in the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs will be without its starting backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and recent arrival James Harden. They will also be without recent arrival Keon Ellis. They will also be without criminally underrated big man Dean Wade.

When, where, and odds

When: 7 p. m. ET. Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan. Watch: or Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit. Odds: Detroit -6.

Projected Pistons and Cavs players

Pistons names listed: Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren. Cleveland names listed: Dennis Schröder (?), Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen. The context raises a question mark beside Dennis Schröder's availability, but suggests he could see heavy minutes given the absences. The piece also notes that Schröder escaped Sacramento along with Ellis.

Matchup: Cunningham vs Mobley

It will also pit 2021’s first overall pick, Cade Cunningham, against No. 3 overall pick Evan Mobley. Mobley has already gotten one Defensive Player of the Year under his belt. The write-up forecasts Cavs fans can get a little agitated when prodded about his offensive development, or lack thereof, and suggests that sometimes it feels more like a passivity issue than a skill issue. Missing so much firepower could be Mobley’s chance to shine offensively, or it could highlight a contrast: maybe Cunningham will simply show the kind of vast difference between the best player in the draft and another top-5 player in the draft, and why that motivates so many teams to tank so egregiously.

Suspensions and role players

Jalen Duren returns from a two-game suspension. Paul Reed has another chance to shine tonight. The preview posits a simple scenario: Cade Cunningham, Paul Reed, and a suffocating defense lead to an easy Detroit W.

The sequence of events as presented: Detroit defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder B Team in the previous outing (noted as not easy), Cleveland arrives depleted — missing Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Keon Ellis, and Dean Wade — which likely increases minutes for Dennis Schröder and others who escaped Sacramento along with Ellis. The head-to-head focus is on Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley, with Mobley carrying one Defensive Player of the Year award and fan scrutiny about his offense.

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Prediction and final note: With Cleveland missing key starters and Detroit getting Jalen Duren back from suspension, the preview favors Detroit pulling away behind Cade Cunningham, contributions from Paul Reed, and a stifling defense.