I don’t like to talk about games being a “must-lose,” but the Detroit Pistons have three games against the Washington Wizards between tonight and April 17. Being a road game helps. Being the second night of a back-to-back helps. The next four are against the Wizards, Raptors, Blazers, and Wizards again. People worried the Pistons are too good to find themselves at the bottom of the standings will have these next four games as a pretty good litmus test. Because the month of April is pretty damn tough with nine road games and only a worrisome Wizards-Cavs duo in succession to really worry about.
Game Vitals
When: 8 p.m. EST
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Watch: Fox Sports Detroit
Odds: Pistons +3.5
Projected lineups
Detroit Pistons (12-32):
Dennis Smith Jr., Hamidou Diallo, Saddiq Bey, Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee
Washington Wizards (15-28):
Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal, Alex Len, Garrison Mathews, Rui Hachimura