Could the Detroit Pistons finally get a win?

All of a sudden, the folks who bought tickets to tonight’s Detroit Pistons home game against the Utah Jazz have a little pep in their step.

These folks have watched their Pistons become the worst team in the NBA this season. Watched them go on a 24-game losing streak. Cringed as they worried the team would break the all-time record for same season losses at 26 and overall streak of losses at 28.

Then the Utah Jazz came today and promptly announced that half of their team won’t play in the game against the Pistons.

Lauri Markkanen, Utah’s leading scorer at 23.3 and leading rebounder at 8.6, won’t be playing tonight. Neither will Keyonte George, who leads the team with 5.0 assists per game.

Also out are Jordan Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker. (To be fair, George has an ankle injury and was already listed as day-to-day, and Clarkson has a thigh injury and was already listed as being out, but when you add up all of this …).

As opportunies go to end this 24-game losing streak and sidestep the infamy of the all-time single-season record of 26, the Detroit Pistons get a good one at home tonight: The Utah Jazz without Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, Keyonte George and Talen Horton-Tucker.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2023

Can the Detroit Pistons beat a depleted Utah Jazz?

NBA: Utah Jazz at Cleveland Cavaliers — Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe the Jazz are just getting ahead of things by announcing these players being out to cover up for the fact that they’re 2-13 in road games and could’ve lost this game with the full complement of players.

Detroit hasn’t given the home fans much to cheer about so far, going 1-12 at home.

But Cade Cunningham has been good, averaging 22.2 points and seven assists and is coming off a 43-point performance in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Looking at the schedule, this game might be the one Detroit needs to win to avoid making dubious history.