Game Preview: Pistons Tasked with Challenge Versus NBA Champion Warriors

The Detroit Pistons(4-2) face the Golden State Warriors(4-2) tonight at Oracle Arena. The game begins at 8:30 p.m. Detroit is playing on the second game of a back-to-back.

The Warriors won a close battle against the Washington Wizards in their last game, 120-117. It was a chippy game that saw Draymond Green get ejected for scrapping with Bradley Beal of Washington. The Warriors were once down 18 points, but a 31-point outburst by Kevin Durant proved to be too much for the Wizards down the stretch.

Stephen Curry added 20 points and eight assists in the win.

The Pistons picked up their biggest win of the season last night in a scrappy battle with the now no longer undefeated Los Angeles Clippers. Detroit's defense was stifling in the second half, holding the Clippers to just 32 combined points in the third and fourth quarters. The Pistons' defense forced Los Angeles into committing 18 turnovers.

Andre Drummond was fantastic in the win for Detroit, scoring 15 points, securing 17 rebounds, and blocking three shots. Reggie Jackson had a nice game himself, scoring 15 points and dishing out seven assists while being guarded by the pesky Patrick Beverly.

The story of the night for Detroit was once again #TheTolliverEffect.

Anthony Tolliver came into the game and immediately made an impact as he guarded Blake Griffin who was a problem for Detroit throughout the entire game. Tolliver did what Tobias Harris, Jon Leuer, and Henry Ellenson could not do: stop Blake Griffin. Tolliver played fantastic defense on the big man who finished the game shooting 5-18 from the field.

Tolliver made multiple key plays down the stretch for Detroit. His first big play game with 5:22 left when he put down a momentum swinging putback dunk to five Detroit an 87-81 lead. Later, be blocked a shot inside by Blake Griffin, ran the court, and nailed a spot up three, giving Detroit a 90-84 lead. He finished with eight points and four boards.

Injuries:

Detroit is at full health for the game, besides Dwight Buycks, who is still out with a hip injury that has sidelined him since the season began. Reggie Bullock came off his five game suspension yesterday and scored one point in about seven minutes of action.

Golden State has no injuries to report.

Probable Starting Lineups:

Detroit Pistons

PG: Reggie Jackson

SG: Avery Bradley

SF: Stanley Johnson

PF: Tobias Harris

C: Andre Drummond

Golden State Warriors

PG: Stephen Curry

SG: Klay Thompson

SF: Kevin Durant

PF: Draymond Green

C: Zaza Pachulia

Featured Image: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images