The Detroit Pistons are running high on momentum and spirit. They took a game away from the Knicks in Madison Square Garden to the Round 1 series 1-1. Now, for the next two games, the Pistons will be playing on their home court and will look to use that and their fans’ support to their advantage.
The Pistons won Game 2 without their influential big man, Isaiah Stewart. The 6’8’’ center hurt his knee in Game 1 and couldn’t suit up for the last game. The Pistons played a highly physical game to get the win that night, and Cade Cunningham was the leader of the pack with an outstanding display. He was influential in everything the Pistons did right that night and ended the game with 33 points. The Pistons fanbase will be hoping he repeats the same performance again tonight in Game 3 and that Isaiah Stewart recovers in time for it. So, will they be playing tonight?
Yes, Cade Cunningham is available to play tonight. He didn’t leave Madison Square Garden with any injury scare after Game 2. So, he’ll be suiting up and rearing to go. The same can’t be said for Isaiah ‘Beef Stew’ Stewart, though. He is still listed as questionable after injuring his knee in Game 1 and sitting out the last game. The Pistons are assessing him on a day-to-day basis and will take a final call before the start of the game.
Stewart is a tough beast, and the injury must be more than just inflammation for his status to be questionable for the game. Isaiah Stewart is a big, physical presence for the Pistons below the rim, and he uses his high energy and physicality to protect the paint. His absence is missed every game, but in Game 2, Jalen Duren took up most of the physical workload in the paint while Tobias Harris and Paul Reed managed to slow down Karl-Anthony Towns for the night.
Nov 21, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles the ball up the court during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
The Pistons went on to have a historic win that night, finally ending their long-running losing streak in the playoffs. It was the franchise’s first playoff victory in 17 years. VHS tapes and DVDs were still around when the Pistons won the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Orlando Magic in 2008. The Little Caesars Arena will be rocking tonight, and the Pistons will need to have a similar performance to get a 2-1 lead.
Cade Cunningham was sensational in Game 2 with his scoring and playmaking, and will need to keep on being at his best to lead the Pistons out of the first round. His output of 33 points and 12 rebounds set the tone for the rest of the team. To get a win in Game 3, the rest of the Pistons squad will need to be pumped up and help out Cade in stopping the Knicks.
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Along with Isaiah Stewart, Jaden Ivey is the only other Pistons player on the recovery table. He has been recovering from a broken leg since January and was averaging 17.6 points a game before that. Such production numbers have surely been missed, but the Pistons have done a good job of adjusting till now. He has been seen getting some shots up recently, which is encouraging for the Pistons. However, he is definitely out for today and will be assessed again in a couple of weeks. So, with these injuries, here’s how the Pistons are predicted to lineup in Game 3 against the New York Knicks:
Point Guard
Cade Cunningham
Shooting Guard
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Small Forward
Ausar Thompson
Power Forward
Tobias Harris
Center
Jalen Duren
Dennis Schroder was Cade’s running mate in Game 2, scoring 20 points and making that crucial tie-breaking three-pointer in the 4th quarter. The Pistons will need that kind of production from him tonight as well. Tim Hardaway Jr. will be looking to improve on his 0-point performance from the last game and provide a better three-point threat to the Knicks from the perimeter. The momentum is with the Pistons after that historic win in Game 2, and J. B. Bickerstaff’s team will have the thumping Pistons fans cheering them on from the rafters.
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