The Cavaliers and Pistons didn’t get invited to the NBA’s Christmas Day party. They’ll get a national television showcase a few weeks later.
Cleveland will host Detroit on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 18, with tipoff scheduled for noon Eastern, the NBA announced Thursday. The game will be televised nationally on NBC and Peacock and opens the league’s four-game MLK Day slate.
Frankly, it’s a pretty good choice.
The Cavs and Pistons developed something resembling an actual rivalry last spring, when Detroit jumped to a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Cleveland eventually fought its way back and completed the comeback by blowing out the Pistons in Game 7 in Detroit.
The Cavs’ celebration didn’t last long. They were swept by the eventual champion Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.
Still, both Cleveland and Detroit enter this season expecting to be among the East’s heavyweights.
The Pistons won 60 games last year behind Cade Cunningham, who emerged as an MVP candidate. Cleveland returns Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, with James Harden expected back as the Cavs continue tinkering with the roster.
After Cavs-Pistons, the MLK Day schedule continues with 76ers-Hawks at 2:30 p.m., Timberwolves-Knicks at 5 and Rockets-Grizzlies at 7:30. All four games will air on NBC and Peacock.
No Christmas invitation for Cleveland or Detroit. Apparently they’ll just have to settle for renewing acquaintances in January.
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