Cleveland @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 7, 2020 ) Detroit 115, Cleveland 113

The Detroit Pistons are finally home after a six-game road trip, which ended with a 115-113 victory at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. The Pistons will try to make it two straight wins against the same team when they host the Cavaliers on Thursday in the opener of a three-game homestand.

Detroit rallied in the fourth quarter on Tuesday, outscoring Cleveland 31-18 in the period and taking the lead for good on Derrick Rose’s floater in the final minute. "First half, was just trying to feel it out, didn't want to disrupt the game or just wasn't feeling it," Rose, who scored 24 points in a season-high 31 minutes, told reporters. "Second half, played a little bit more aggressive and tried to make them adjust the way they were covering me and got everyone open." Rose is one of several veterans among the two teams rumored to be on the trade block, and Cavaliers star forward Kevin Love showed off for opposing scouts by matching a season high with 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting in Tuesday's setback. Love, who acknowledged his poor recent behavior before the game, knocked down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and added nine rebounds against the Pistons.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: FS Ohio, FS Detroit

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (10-27): Love did not talk after the game like a veteran on his way out of town but instead sounded like he was trying to be a leader for his younger teammates. "Our end-game execution in getting really good shots has been tough for us," Love told reporters. "Sometimes it's been inbounding the ball and having teams force us 30 feet from the basket running our offense, so we just need to continue to move the play calling, or move the plays I should say, closer to the basket. Make plays for other guys, set better screens, crisper passes and get to some really quality shots down the stretch, and I feel like we'll get over the hump and win those games." Center Tristan Thompson - another trade candidate - grabbed 15 rebounds in the loss but was held to eight points on 3-of-7 shooting and is 6-of-21 over the last three contests.

ABOUT THE PISTONS (14-24): Detroit center Andre Drummond is another player rumored to be on the trade block and he controlled the inside with 23 points, 20 rebounds and a pair of blocks on Tuesday. "Played great," Pistons coach Dwane Casey told reporters of Drummond. "All the superlatives you have for him. Happy for him. He came in and just really dominated the paint. Made the right plays, didn't try to force it and that's the way he has to play." The win came hours after the team learned that star forward Blake Griffin underwent knee surgery that would require a significant rehabilitation and could keep him out the remainder of the season.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cavaliers PG Brandon Knight scored a season-high 13 points in a season-high 24 minutes off the bench on Tuesday.

2. Pistons rookie F Sekou Doumbouya is averaging 13 points over the last four games after totaling nine points in his first seven appearances.

3. Detroit took the first two meetings this season - both at Cleveland.

PREDICTION: Pistons 108, Cavaliers 107