Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Detroit Pistons – Game #56
Keita Bates-Diop is likely to start against the Pistons (Photo via Twitter)
Two of the worst teams in the league will play tonight when the San Antonio Spurs take on the Detroit Pistons. The Spurs have a record of 14-41 and the Pistons have a record of 14-42. Not only has San Antonio lost the first two games of their Rodeo Road Trip, they’ve lost ten consecutive contests overall.
With the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes in mind, neither team is too interested in actually winning this game. In fact, if you haven’t been to a game this season, you can buy NBA tickets here for a really good deal because this is only a game for true diehards.
The Pistons have been a little bit better than the Spurs lately. In their last 11 games, they have two wins. The Houston Rockets are the only team in the NBA with a worse record than the Spurs and Pistons. The Rockets are 13-42 but they actually have three wins in their last ten games.
San Antonio Spurs Injury Update
The injury situation is as bleak as it’s been the entire season for the Spurs. Devin Vassell remains sidelined after he had an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee. He’s out until some time after the All-Star break.
Keldon Johnson is out tonight with left ankle soreness. He has been questionable in recent games but he’s been playing. That will change tonight.
Also out are two starters in Jeremy Sochan and Tre Jones. Sochan and Jones have missed games recently due to low back soreness and left foot soreness, respectively.
Romeo Langford, who had been filling in for Vassell as the team’s starting shooting guard, will miss another game due to left adductor soreness.
Charles Bassey and Khem Birch are the final two Spurs who are out tonight. Bassey is assigned to the Austin Spurs of the G League and Birch, who the Spurs acquired in the Jakob Poeltl trade, isn’t yet with the team.
Devonte’ Graham is Available
Devonte’ Graham, who the Spurs acquired in the Josh Richardson trade, is with the team and he’s available to play tonight. Graham is a 6-foot-1 point guard who is known for his three-point shooting. While he didn’t play much for the New Orleans Pelicans this season, the 27-year-old should step in and be in San Antonio’s rotation right away.
San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineup
Head coach Gregg Popovich will have a lot of tough decisions to make when it comes to the team’s starting lineup.
At center, expect Zach Collins to get the start. Backing him up will likely be Dominic Barlow.
At power forward, expect Keita Bates-Diop to get the start. At small forward, the likely candidates to start are Isaiah Roby and Stanley Johnson.
At the guard positions, Malaki Branham is likely to be one of the starters. The other starter will likely either be Blake Wesley or the newly acquired Devonte’ Graham.
Betting Guide: Spurs at Pistons
The Pistons are favored by six points and the over/under is 234.5 points. The smart money is on the under. The Spurs are missing a ton of offensive production, so it’ll be difficult for them to put points on the board.