Recent form is the story in Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, January 18. The Pistons have won 3 of their last 5, while the Cavaliers have won 0.
How the Win Meter reads
The Win Meter reads the Cavaliers 55%, with a projected score of Detroit Pistons 112, Cleveland Cavaliers 114. The rating gap is 63 points in favor of the Pistons, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Cavaliers on top of that.
Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 45 times in 100 games like this, the Pistons would win.
The recent-form gap
The Pistons are 2-0 this season and 3-2 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of +2.2. The Cavaliers are 0-1 this season and 0-5 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -17.
The Pistons' best recent win was 115-94 on the road against CLE.
The Pistons were beaten 125-94 at home by CLE not long ago.
The Cavaliers were beaten 130-93 at home by NYK not long ago.
Injuries to watch
Out: Jalen Duren (DET), expected back Oct 27, 2026, Ugonna Onyenso (DET), Khalifa Diop (CLE), Nae'Qwan Tomlin (CLE), and Ernest Udeh, Jr. (CLE).
Day to day or questionable: Ausar Thompson (DET), Elijah Harkless (DET), and Isaac Jones (DET). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Cavaliers lead 9-6, with the Cavaliers outscoring the Pistons by an average of 3.4 points per game. The last meeting was CLE 125, DET 94.