MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Detroit Pistons take their last road preseason trip to Minneapolis on Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center before closing the exhibition slate Friday at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit is 1-1 in preseason after beating Phoenix and falling in overtime to Washington. Minnesota sits 3-1 with wins over Milwaukee, Miami and New York and a loss to Indiana in Ames, Iowa.
Regular-season play for Detroit opens Oct. 20 against Boston at Little Caesars Arena. Coach JB Bickerstaff group has been watching rookie guard Ebuka Okorie, who scored 14 points in the overtime loss to the Wizards after a seven-point debut with the game-winner against Phoenix.
Availability is fluid. Jalen Duren sat the first two exhibitions while working back from a training-camp contract holdout, and Cade Cunningham sat the last game. If both rest again, Daniss Jenkins and Paul Reed could start with Okorie and Tolu Smith — who grabbed 13 rebounds against Washington — getting heavy bench minutes.
Minnesota new look includes LaMelo Ball, acquired from Charlotte. Anthony Edwards has led the Wolves in three of four preseason games, and Detroit swept Minnesota last season. Little Caesars Arena remains the Pistons home for the Friday finale against Toronto and the Oct. 20 opener.
