The Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets face each other Friday for the first time in more than two months in a game that will likely draw the attention of both teams.
It will mark the first time the teams meet since a brawl that resulted in four player ejections and a later ejection of Charlotte coach Charles Lee.
The Pistons beat Charlotte 112-86 at home in December and claimed a 110-104 decision Feb. 9 in the brawl-marred game in Charlotte.
The Hornets (43-37) have been off since losing 113-102 on Tuesday night at Boston, ending a four-game winning streak.
Yet Charlotte continues to jockey for postseason position. It will be in the Eastern Conference’s play-in tournament at the very least, but there’s a chance to improve that status. The Hornets are 1 1/2 games back of sixth-place Toronto entering Thursday’s action.
The Pistons (58-22) are in better shape as they already have clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference, winning four of their last five games.
“I think we’re going to have a great practice and get ourselves ready to play a really tough (team), obviously, the No. 1 seed, in the Detroit Pistons,” Lee said.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons in scoring in both prior games vs. Charlotte, averaging 27.5 points in those outings. Cunningham played Wednesday for the first time since March 17 after missing 11 games because of a collapsed lung. He notched a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists in a 137-111 home rout of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Detroit also had Isaiah Stewart back after missing nearly a month with a calf injury.
“There is no way to replicate NBA basketball other than playing NBA basketball, so it was great to have them back out there trying to catch a rhythm going down the stretch,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
Bickerstaff said Cunningham could be on a minutes restriction if he plays again Friday.
“Get him some reps,” Bickerstaff said of the importance of court time. “(How he feels through Thursday) will determine what happens vs. Charlotte.”
The February brawl was sparked by a confrontation between Detroit’s Jalen Duren and Charlotte’s Moussa Diabate in the third quarter. Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart, who joined the fray by coming off the bench, and Charlotte’s Miles Bridges were also ejected and suspensions were handed out.
With the playoffs beginning within a week or so, it figures that the behavior will be better from both teams.
Lee said the defensive intensity from Charlotte has been strong at times. He also liked the tempo the team played with in Boston.
“I thought the unselfishness offensively, the pace and execution were great for most of the game,” he said.
Guard LaMelo Ball has been heating up again for the Hornets. He tallied 36 points, including a season-best 23 in the first half, in the Boston game. He has scored 35 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time since doing so in three consecutive games in November of 2024.
The Hornets did have a backcourt glitch earlier this week with guard Coby White out of action because of groin soreness. He has averaged 17.2 points per game across the past month, so it would be a boost if he’s able to return with the Pistons in town.
Friday’s matchup with Detroit will mark the final home game of the regular season for the Hornets.
Detroit is 7-2 against the Hornets in the last nine meetings, splitting four clashes in Charlotte during that stretch.
–Field Level Media
