Pistons at Cavaliers
THE STORY: The Detroit Pistons are playing only .333 basketball, but are on a 7-2 run as they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. The Pistons were in contention for the league’s worst record a couple weeks ago, but now are five games behind Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Likewise, the Cavaliers continue to surprise despite a rash of injuries. They are 2-2 without center Anderson Varejao and enter Tuesday two games behind the Celtics.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit (Pistons), FS Ohio (Cavaliers)
ABOUT THE PISTONS (11-22): The Pistons have the same record through 33 games as they did at this point last season, but the mood surrounding the team is completely different. Winning helps, but Brandon Knight is evolving into a complete player while learning the role of point guard on the fly. Knight has scored 38 points in his last two games and has teamed with Rodney Stuckey to give the Pistons what could be a solid backcourt for years to come.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (12-17): While top pick Kyrie Irving grabs all the attention, Tristan Thompson is slowly emerging after the Cavaliers selected him fourth overall last summer. Thompson sprained the same ankle twice within weeks of each other, but said he is healthy. While coach Byron Scott said Thompson isn’t ready to start yet, he posted his first career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in Sunday’s win over the Kings. Now all he has to do is fix that woeful 46 percent free throw percentage.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Cavaliers allow only 9.7 fast-break points per game, which is the second-fewest in the league.
2. Detroit’s Greg Monroe has 16 double-doubles, tied for eighth-most in the NBA. His 129 offensive rebounds rank second.
3. Stuckey is averaging 14.7 points for the season, but 25 in the Pistons’ last four games.