Oklahoma City enters this contest with all the momentum you could ask for—winners of 10 straight and a powerhouse at home with a 33-5 record. They’ve been especially dominant against the Eastern Conference, boasting a near-flawless 28-1 record, and they’ll now face a Detroit squad that's limping into this game both literally and figuratively.

The Pistons are significantly shorthanded due to the suspensions of Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, and Ron Holland II—players who contribute to their already-thin depth. The potential absence or limited availability of veteran forward Tobias Harris (Achilles) only compounds the issues for a team that’s struggled on the road. With just 16 wins away from home this season, the Pistons are in a tough spot.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been nearly unstoppable, leading the league in scoring, and with Jalen Williams, Josh Giddey, and Chet Holmgren rounding out an efficient and explosive supporting cast, OKC should be able to dictate the pace early and never look back.

Defensively, the Thunder excel at switching and contesting shots, which could spell trouble for Cade Cunningham, Detroit’s lone bright spot in terms of consistent offense. Expect the Thunder to throw multiple looks at him, daring the rest of Detroit’s patchwork lineup to keep up.

While double-digit spreads always carry some risk, this is a rare spot where the superior team has both motivation (to maintain top seed status) and matchup advantages across the board. If OKC comes out locked in—especially on defense—this could turn into a blowout before the third quarter ends.