Pistons at Cavaliers
The Detroit Pistons visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday in a preview of a first-round playoff matchup, but the teams won't look anything like the ones they will put forth in the postseason. With nothing to play for in terms of playoff positioning, both squads will likely rest most of their regulars before they meet again this weekend in Cleveland for the opener of their best-of-seven series.
The Cavaliers clinched the top spot in the Eastern Conference on Monday with a win over Atlanta as superstar LeBron James showed he was playoff-ready with 34 points, six rebounds and six assists. "If he plays like this, man, we're going to be tough to beat," coach Tyronn Lue told reporters following the 15-point victory. "He's just taken it to a whole other level the last three or four weeks, playing at a very high level." The Pistons clinched their first playoff berth since 2009 with a 112-99 win over Washington on Friday. They entered Tuesday with a chance to sneak into the seventh spot by winning out and getting help elsewhere but that went by the board with a 99-93 loss at home against Miami.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, WMYD (Detroit), FSN Ohio (Cleveland)
ABOUT THE PISTONS (43-38): Detroit will seriously consider sitting standout guard Reggie Jackson, who missed Tuesday's loss with an abdominal strain. Coach Stan Van Gundy may want to rest guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who entered Tuesday ranked fourth in the league in minutes per game (36.7), as well as forwards Marcus Morris (12th, 35.7) and Tobias Harris (t-37th, 33.0). The Pistons are 16-9 with Harris in the starting lineup since he came over in a trade with Orlando in February.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (57-24): James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love will sit this one out, and a few others probably will as well. Fans at Cleveland's home finale can expect to see plenty of Matthew Dellavedova - who had 10 points in 20 minutes versus Atlanta - and veterans Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye and Sasha Kaun. Tristan Thompson, who will be the starter at center in the playoffs, enters the day having played in 369 straight games, a franchise record and the longest active streak in the NBA.
WALK-OFFS
1. PG Steve Blake had 10 points and seven assists while filling in for Jackson on Tuesday.
2. Jackson is listed as day-to-day and Van Gundy told reporters Tuesday that the strain should not affect his playoff status.
3. Cavaliers G Mo Williams has missed two straight games with a knee ailment.