The Detroit Pistons enter Friday night’s NBA Cup group stage matchup as reasonable favorites against the Brooklyn Nets. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. at Barclays Center.
Detroit continues to carry momentum after a strong performance last season, when the team gave the New York Knicks trouble in a key playoff matchup. Currently, the Pistons are on a four-game winning streak that includes a hard-fought road victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.
The only uncertainty for Detroit lies in the unpredictability of the first round of NBA Cup tournament play. Several teams have seen surprising results — for instance, both Cleveland and Indiana have 0-1 records in East Group A.
On the other hand, Brooklyn is experiencing a slight uplift. The Nets registered their first win of the 2025–26 season on Wednesday, defeating the Indiana Pacers 112–103 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. That result brought Brooklyn to 1–7, matching the struggling Pacers.
"Could Brooklyn's maiden win coming in, plus the weird circumstances of a tournament tilt, make the Nets into a pick?"
Detroit remains the more consistent team, but Brooklyn’s breakthrough victory and the tournament’s unpredictable nature could lead to an unexpected result.
Note: Data collected on November 7, 2025, and may have changed since publication.
Detroit seeks to extend its four-game streak against a revitalized Brooklyn squad, adding intrigue to the unpredictable NBA Cup group stage.