Pistons Open NBA Cup Group Play Against Nets

The Detroit Pistons will open NBA Cup group play on Friday night with a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. This game marks the start of four group play contests for the Pistons this season.

The Pistons are placed in East Group A alongside the Nets, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, and Milwaukee Bucks. The team, which missed the knockout stage last season, is considered one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

The Nets, currently winless at 0-4, face the Pistons in an attempt to secure their first victory of the 2026-27 NBA season. Brooklyn's closest call came in a 125-124 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics.

To beat the Pistons, the Nets will rely on the contributions of Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. Porter Jr., who averaged 22.8 points per game this season, has led the team, while Randle has also made an impact in his first season with the Nets.

The Pistons, meanwhile, will look to build on Cade Cunningham's recent performance, including a 30-plus-point game against the Charlotte Hornets. Jalen Duren's hamstring injury has left him out for at least two weeks, prompting increased contributions from Daniss Jenkins and Paul Reed.

Jenkins and Reed have both scored in double figures in the Pistons' last two games, with Jenkins continuing to develop as a key rotational piece. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, with the Pistons having a 3-1 record against the Nets in their 2025-26 series.