Detroit @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 11, 2019 ) Cleveland 105, Detroit 109

The Detroit Pistons' offense sputtered in back-to-back losses to the Charlotte Hornets but came alive Sunday in a 132-98 drubbing of the San Antonio Spurs at home. The Pistons will try to carry that success on the road when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

"We played a lot better," Detroit forward Blake Griffin told reporters after the win. "Probably one of our more complete games. My message tomorrow is going to be what type of team are we going to be in Cleveland (on Tuesday)?" The Pistons got a career-high 28 points on 11-of-14 shooting in 22 minutes off the bench from forward Christian Wood on Sunday, and turning him into a consistent spark is a focus for the team as they try to pull out of a slump that saw them drop eight of 10 prior to beating the Spurs. The Cavaliers are losers of three straight and nine of their last 10 but came away from a 119-110 loss to the Eastern Conference-best Milwaukee Bucks feeling good about themselves. Cleveland trimmed a 22-point deficit to one possession with a strong third quarter and will try to build off that moving forward.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE PISTONS (7-13): Wood is playing for his fifth team in five seasons and is on a non-guaranteed contract with Detroit, and he understands that he is playing for his future every time he steps on the floor. "I'm not just doing this for (coach Dwane) Casey or the staff," Wood, who added 10 rebounds and went 2-of-3 from beyond the arc on Sunday, told reporters. "All 30 teams are watching me, so every time I play, I try to be relentless. I try to come with energy, and I try to give you everything I've got." Wood totaled six points in the two losses to Charlotte but scored in double figures in each of the team's last three wins.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (5-14): Cleveland's improved performance on Saturday included the team totaling a season-high 32 assists, including six from rookie point guard Darius Garland. The 19-year-old added a team-high 21 points and is 13-of-22 from the floor over the last two contests. "He just looked like he felt really sure of himself, very confident on the floor," Cavaliers coach John Beilein told reporters of Garland after Saturday's game. "He is starting to get a command for the offense, he's starting to take some charge on some things and then he's playing against some really good guards every minute, so he is improving there."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pistons SG Luke Kennard is averaging 19.3 points over the last four games and is 14-of-26 from 3-point range in that span.

2. Cavaliers PF Larry Nance Jr. collected 18 points and nine rebounds on Saturday, ending a string of three straight double-doubles.

3. Detroit took three of the four meetings last season, including a 129-93 victory at Cleveland on March 2.

PREDICTION: Pistons 112, Cavaliers 109