Pistons Get the Edge in a Tight Early Test Against the 76ers

By NBA Stat Desk How we produce articles

Detroit's home court and Cade Cunningham should be enough to hold off a Philadelphia team that keeps digging holes.

PHI @ DET Nov 5, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC

Philadelphia (7-1) and Detroit (6-1) arrive with similar records and star guards in rhythm. Tyrese Maxey is averaging 29.6 points for the Sixers, and Cade Cunningham is at 22.2 for the Pistons after a 30-point, seven-assist game in a 97-89 win over Charlotte.

The Sixers' biggest concern is their habit of falling behind. They trailed in every one of their wins, including a franchise-record 29-point comeback against Cleveland, and Maxey says he is tired of it. That pattern is risky on the road, and the underlying numbers explain it. Philadelphia's defense ranks third-best and forces 17.3 turnovers a game, but its 50.8 effective field goal percentage is sixth-worst in the league. That is how games stay close even for a 7-1 team. Anfernee Simons helps, shooting 43.8 percent from three and averaging 12.0 points off the bench, but one shooter can only do so much for an inefficient offense.

The frontcourt is where this gets interesting. Detroit will be without center Jalen Duren (hamstring), and Paul Reed started in his place against Charlotte. That hurts Detroit's rebounding. Philadelphia has had its own glass problems, though. Joel Embiid has missed two games, Ariel Hukporti is out for the season, and Dominick Barlow is out, so the Sixers have little center depth. Isaiah Joe is also out for Detroit, which thins its perimeter group, but the Pistons have the steadier primary creator.

Expect a grinding game in which Philadelphia's pressure forces some mistakes and Detroit's home crowd and Cunningham keep it from falling behind the way the Sixers have. A late Philadelphia push seems likely, but the Pistons should hold on.

Prediction: Pistons 106, 76ers 102.

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