Spurs vs. Pistons GAMEDAY Preview: Trade Deadline Aftermath; Who's Left to Play?

The San Antonio Spurs play the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on Friday evening. Following the trade deadline, both the Spurs and Pistons' rosters will face each other with altered rosters. Who will win the battle of the depleted?

Coming off a 112-98 loss to the Toronto Raptors, the San Antonio Spurs' next battle seems more accessible in comparison. The Spurs play the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on Friday evening. 

While the Spurs gained assets during the trade deadline bonanza, they also gutted key veterans in the process. Although the Pistons beat the Spurs out for former Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman, who will win the on-court battle?

Losers of 10 consecutive games, something must give. That something is the Pistons. Aside from the Brooklyn Nets, the successive win on the board came courtesy of Detroit on January 6. Despite the apparent lack of success in San Antonio's win-loss column, Detroit is worse. 

As the pursuit of Victor Wembanyama remains the pivotal prize in summer 2023, Detroit, theoretically, have a better shot at the franchise-shifting prospect. By the tip of a spur, the Pistons fare better in lottery probability, with a mere loss in the standings separating them from San Antonio. 

The February 10, 7:30 a.m. official NBA injury report lists five Spurs players as questionable. Among those players, standout Keldon Johnson deals with left ankle soreness. Khem Birch, one of the players San Antonio gained at the trade deadline, is a coach's decision. 

But wait there's more; San Antonio's Devin Vassell won't play as he's sidelined indefinitely due to a arthroscopic procedure on his left knee. Perhaps Friday's contest is more difficult than suggested at first glance. 

In the January 6 matchup, Spurs guard Tre Jones scored 25 points, on an efficient 11-18 shooting. On the other side, veteran forward Bojan Bogdanovic posted 21 points. 

The Spurs will need another player to step as they deal with a skeleton depth chart. 

FUN FACT: Consider the Spurs trade deadline a success. Officially in the rebuild phase, they obtained a total of eight draft picks, with one first-round and seven second-round picks. The first-round pick is Toronto's top-six protected for 2024. 

RECORDS: San Antonio Spurs (14-41), Detroit Pistons (14-42)

WHEN: Friday, February 10, 2023 - 6:00 p.m. CT

WHERE: Little Caesars Arena (Detroit, MI)

TV: Bally Sports Southwest, League Pass

RADIO: Spurs Radio WOAI 1200 AM

ODDS: The Detroit Pistons favor the San Antonio Spurs by four points. 

FINAL WORD: With not much to play for regarding the lottery-lock status of the Spurs, now the Spurs coaching staff must focus on maturing the young players on the roster. With the 2023 NBA draft said to hold a deep pool of meaningful prospects, the sooner the youthful players gain wisdom the better. 

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