NBA Matchups: February 24

LAC @ DET | DEN @ IND | CHI @ PHI | BKN @ WAS | MIA @ ATL | MIN @ OKC | POR @ UTA | CHA @ SAC

L.A. Clippers (back end) at Detroit Pistons (back end)

Team Totals: Clippers 113.5, Pistons 111

Injury Report: Both teams on a B2B

Clippers projected starters: James Harden, Norman Powell, Kris Dunn, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac

Pistons projected starters: Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardaway Jr., Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Lue quotes: Said Norman Powell couldn’t practice over the weekend, said the Pacers used their speed against them and that’s why they lost, said they couldn’t stop the ball, said Haliburton-Turner PNR game killed them, said Ben won’t be able to play on Monday.

Bickerstaff quotes: Said Duren is “hoopin’” and there’s no way around it, said the team is resilient because of their personality, said they were able to fight through some fouls early on Ausar Thompson, said Schroder was great defensively for them, said they can play through Duren when teams are trapping Cade, said THJ took advantage of all the traps on Cade, said Ausar is a great cutter and gets to the right spot, said Cade was “kicking ass” in the first half.

Stats and Notes: 

*These teams both played yesterday, and the home team had more travel as the Pistons came from Detroit and the Clippers are coming in from Indiana. Both of these teams are playing excellent basketball with both teams in the top three for defensive rating in 2025. They are two of the best teams at keeping teams off the boards, and the Pistons have excelled at limiting some of the easy stuff from opponents. The Pistons have the fourth-best rim defense in the NBA after they ranked 24th last year. Jalen Duren has been locked in and has suddenly become one of the best rim protectors in the NBA. For the Clippers, they are just flush with on-ball defense while no team is better at limiting opponent O boards this year. They’re seventh best at limiting C&S stuff and the Pistons are just middle of the pack there. The Clippers are also not getting any C&S stuff up this year and rank dead last in C&S points, and the Pistons are getting better in that department on defense, too. This should be a slugfest as one of the worst environments on the slate.

*Kawhi Leonard should be back after his day off on Sunday, but this is a new injury for him. Coach Ty Lue had mentioned that he will keep Kawhi at a 32-minute limit, and his matchup isn’t going to be all that great against this elite Pistons defense (did I just type that?). I’d expect him to get Tobias Harris to make it just slightly subpar for him.

*James Harden should get one of the toughest matchups here with Ausar Thompson likely picking him up. His role is still excellent and he’s getting to the line a decent bit. He’s still fifth in touch time this month and he’s driving at a decent clip at 16.4 per game this month. Obviously if Kawhi and Norm are out, the role might be too good.