Hoops Nightly
Tip-off · Friday, December 18
ClevelandCavaliers0-0 · away
CLE
7:30 pm ET
DET
DetroitPistons1-0 · home

Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons

7:30 PM ET · 4:30 PM PTLittle Caesars Arena, Detroit
When and where to watch

Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons: tip-off Fri, Dec 18, 7:30 PM ET (4:30 PM PT) at Little Caesars Arena. Local TV: WOIO/RESN/DAZN-CLE (CLE), TV20 Detroit/DAZN-DET (DET); NBA League Pass out of market.

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Expected starters

by starts this season · every lineup today →
Away · ClevelandCavaliers
  1. James HardenJames HardenG · #123.6pts · 34.8 min
  2. Donovan MitchellDonovan MitchellG · #4527.9pts · 33.5 min
  3. Evan MobleyEvan MobleyC · #418.2pts · 31.9 min
  4. Peyton WatsonPeyton WatsonG · #814.6pts · 29.6 min
  5. Jarrett AllenJarrett AllenC · #3115.4pts · 27.1 min
OutNae'Qwan TomlinBack · TorsoDay-To-DaySam MerrillDay-To-DayKhalifa Diop
Home · DetroitPistons
  1. Cade CunninghamCade CunninghamG · #222.0pts · 35.3 min
  2. Ausar ThompsonAusar ThompsonG-F · #911.0pts · 33.2 min
  3. 0Jalen DurenC · #022.0pts · 28.0 min
  4. 55Duncan RobinsonF · #5521.0pts · 27.8 min
  5. John CollinsJohn CollinsF-C · #206.0pts · 25.4 min
Day-To-DayTaurean Prince

Teams confirm their starters about 30 minutes before tip-off. Until then this is the five the data points to, with anyone ruled out already removed.

Head to head · games that counted

Cavaliers lead 6-5

Cavaliers vs Pistons: the matchup page →
Sun, May 17 · 2025-26CLE125DET94Fri, May 15 · 2025-26DET115CLE94Wed, May 13 · 2025-26CLE117DET113Mon, May 11 · 2025-26DET103CLE112
How to watch · Cavaliers at Pistons7:30 PM ET4:30 PM PT · Friday, December 18
TV20 Detroit/DAZN-DETDETWOIO/RESN/DAZN-CLECLE

No national TV: watch on the teams' local broadcasters in-market, or on NBA League Pass out of market (local blackouts apply).

Pistons marketDAZN (streaming, local market)
Cavaliers marketDAZN (streaming, local market)
RadioSiriusXM · 950 AM · WTAM 1100 / 100.7 WMMS / S: La Mega 1300
How to watch the Cavaliers →How to watch the Pistons →
Around the world

Where this game lands

5 of 12 countries get it at a live-friendly hour

AustraliaLiveSat 11:30 AMDisney+ (ESPN)Proctor (CLE)NigeriaAlarmSat 1:30 AMSportyTVOkorie (DET) · Onyenso (DET)CanadaLiveFri 7:30 PMTSNIndiaLiveSat 6:00 AMPrime VideoNew ZealandLiveSat 1:30 PMDisney+ (ESPN)PhilippinesLiveSat 8:30 AMPrime VideoFranceAlarmSat 01:30beIN SPORTS · beIN SPORTS CONNECTGermanyAlarmSat 01:30Sky Sport · Sky GoIrelandAlarmSat 00:30Sky SportsItalyAlarmSat 01:30Sky Sport Basket · Sky GoSouth AfricaAlarmSat 02:30SportyTVUnited KingdomAlarmSat 00:30Sky Sports

Injury report

both teams · read every 15 minutes
Cavaliers3 listed
OutNae'Qwan TomlinBack · Torso · est. return 2026-11-16
Day-To-DaySam MerrillElbow · Arm · Right · est. return 2026-10-22
Day-To-DayKhalifa DiopKnee · Leg · Left · est. return 2026-10-22
Pistons1 listed
Day-To-DayTaurean PrincePersonal · Other · est. return 2026-10-23