November 11, 2026 at 8:34 AM UTC
Pregame AnalysisPistons Look to Extend Washington's Slide in a Quick Rematch
Detroit's ball movement and the Wizards' defensive problems point to another Pistons win.
This page is the pregame analysis. The box score is the main page for the game, and the matchup history collects every meeting between these teams.
Detroit gets a second look at a Washington team still searching for answers. In Monday's meeting, the Pistons won 122-111 to end a two-game losing streak and improve to 7-3. The Wizards lost their fourth straight and fell to 4-7.
The box score explains why Anthony Davis's 44 points on 16-of-21 shooting, plus 13 rebounds, weren't enough. He did that after missing two games with a right ankle sprain. Detroit had 31 assists to Washington's 16, committed 10 turnovers to the Wizards' 18, and won the fast-break battle 19-4. A 37-point second quarter put the Pistons in control. Davis was blunt afterward, citing the lack of defense, poor rebounding, open threes, fouling and weak ball pressure. A star's efficiency can't cover for all of that, and those problems have to be fixed before Washington's results change.
Detroit's lineup tweak looks like a bigger factor. Daniss Jenkins replaced Paul Reed in the starting five after a career-high 31 points off the bench against the Lakers. He answered with 22 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals, including 13 points in the third quarter. John Collins had his best night of the season, with 24 points and 10 rebounds on 9-of-13 shooting. JB Bickerstaff credited the spacing of the smaller group, and Cunningham added 17. Washington now has to show it can handle that look without giving up easy transition points.
I expect the Wizards to be more competitive if Davis again gets to his spots, but Detroit's passing and its edge in taking care of the ball should decide it. The Pistons are the more organized team right now, and Washington has yet to show it has fixed the issues Davis described. I'll take Detroit, 118-109.