Detroit Pistons look to extend winning run against visiting Charlotte Hornets
Watch the Detroit Pistons take on the Charlotte Hornets, live on Sky Sports Arena (Red Button) on Sunday night at 8:30pm
Sunday 11 November 2018 20:41, UK
Two Eastern Conference teams hoping to establish themselves as playoff contenders meet when the Detroit Pistons host the Charlotte Hornets, live on Sky Sports Arena (Red Button) at 8:30pm on Sunday night.
The Pistons currently sit sixth in the East standings, having rediscovered their winning touch after suffering a five-game losing streak.
Victories over the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks in their last two outings have got them back into positive territory. Center Andre Drummond has been in dominant form, posting a 23-point, 19-rebound performance in the win over the Magic and following that up with 23 points and 11 rebounds against Atlanta.
The Hornets (6-6) sit at .500 after 12 games, good enough for seventh spot in the Eastern Conference.
They travel to Detroit on the back of a tough 133-132 overtime loss against the Philadelphia 76ers, a game in which Kemba Walker's 30-point, nine-assist effort was surpassed by Joel Embiid's match-winning 42 points and an excellent all-round game from Ben Simmons.
The Hornets have suffered a number of narrow defeats thus far. They have now lost twice to the Sixers (by two points and one point respectively), fallen to the Milwaukee Bucks by a solitary point and been beaten by the Chicago Bulls by two points.
Will they discover better end-of-game execution - not to mention some luck - if they find themselves in a tight finish in Detroit.
Key Battle: Andre Drummond v Cody Zeller
With Drummond leading the league in rebounding (16.1 per game) and posting consecutive 20+ point games in his last two outings, Zeller have his hands full keeping the Detroit center from dominating the boards and the paint.
Zeller is not a strong rebounder but he and back-up Willy Hernangomez are the only Charlotte players with the size and strength to battle Drummond inside. They may well be in for a long night.
Last time out
Numbers game
28.1 - That's Kemba Walker points per game this season, more than five points higher than he has averaged in his any of his previous seven seasons in Charlotte.
The reason? There are no other consistent scorers on the Hornets' roster. In fact, outside Walker, no Charlotte player is averaging more than 13.4 PPG.
That scoring burden places enormous pressure on Walker to deliver night in, night out for his team.
One to watch (Hornets): Miles Bridges
Just 12 games into his NBA career, rookie forward Bridges has already shown he possesses the ability and athleticism to produce staggering plays.
His tomahawk slam against the Atlanta Hawks remains a contender for dunk of the season.
Can your eye on Bridges who, averaging 20 minutes a game in his maiden season, has the potential to get you out of your seat with more highlight-reel plays.
One to watch (Pistons): Blake Griffin
'Point Blake' has been at the heart of everything the Pistons have done well this season. He is averaging a career-best 27.3 points per game and posting double-figure rebounds for the first time since the 2011/12 season. His is also distributing the ball well, averaging 4.6 assists per game.
While Griffin is no longer the freakishly-athletic, high flying dunker of his youth, his all-round game has developed ensuring he remains a potent offensive force, even from beyond the three-point arc. He carried the Pistons to a memorable overtime victory against Philadelphia, scoring a game-winning 50 points as Detroit prevailed 133-132.
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