With the NBA season heating up, the Detroit Pistons will take on the Sacramento Kings in a fun matchup. The Kings have been playing poorly all season, but could sneak wins against the Pistons, who won seven of ten games. Detroit is looking to regain its momentum after losing to the Rockets on Friday. With the NBA trade deadline getting close, the Pistons could have a great game and continue their hot run against the Kings.

Today’s game for the Pistons could get their momentum back before February, with the trade deadline approaching in two weeks. Detroit is on a hot streak, winning seven of ten games, even with a loss on Friday. With a win against the Kings, the Pistons could keep their stranglehold on the Eastern Conference one-seed away from their conference rivals. While the Pistons are looking to keep their momentum, the Kings are hoping to bounce back after losing four straight. 

Sacramento has been having a nightmare season and is looking to avoid being at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. With the Pistons having a season of a lifetime, and the Kings having another poor season, bettors could find it easy to decide who could get them the most money on a Sunday afternoon.

Game Details

Date:  January 25, 2026

Time:  3:00 PM

Location:  Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI

TV/Streaming:  FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, NBCS-CA NBA League Pass

Odds: (DET -490, Detroit -13.5, o/u 225.5)

Team Form & Recent Results

Sacramento Kings Recent Form

• Lost six of ten with a four-game losing streak
• 28th in PPG, 17th in FG%, 27th in rebounds
• The Kings are looking to avoid their fifth loss in a row, in a poor season. 
• Domantas Sabonis scored 24 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists in the losing effort against the Cavaliers.

 Detroit Pistons Recent Form

• Won 7 of ten games, with a one-game losing streak
• Is 7-3 in January, and they are facing three teams over .500 in their next five games.
• The Pistons are a solid offensive team with strong pacing and are seventh in field goals, but are poor in free throws, being near the bottom of the league. 
• Faced the Houston Rockets with a loss against them on Friday night.

Key Storylines

• For the Sacramento Kings, Keegan Murray is out; for the Detroit Pistons, Cunningham and Chris LeVert are game-time decisions. 
• No star players are returning to injury, with Cunningham, while hurt, could start the game against the Kings.
• The Pistons won their last match-up against the Kings last year

• Detroit could improve its turnover margin against a team that ranks last in league defense.
• Las Vegas is focusing on the Pistons to cover, given the roster they assembled against a weak Kings squad.

Players to Watch

 Sacramento Kings

• Domantas Sabonis
• The Sacramento Kings’ best player off the bench is a solid big man with various double-doubles this season.
• Scored 24 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists with 30 minutes on the court, and could have another solid game

Detroit Pistons

• Cade Cunningham
• Cunningham could match up well against Russell Westbrook in a man-to-man game 
• Looking to bounce back performance of 12 point performance, Cunningham could have an impact against a team that has been struggling this season.

Matchup Breakdown

Offense vs. Defense

Detroit has been playing well with their offense being led by Cunningham, scoring 25 points a game, along with Ausar Thompson playing well with scoring 14 per game, with a defense led by Jalen Duren, and Isaiah Stewart being enforcers for their stars. 

The Pistons’ offense is 12th in points per game, with 116 a game, but is second in defensive rating and first in steals. Detroit will be facing a team in the Kings that is leading in turnovers and poorly cares for the ball, along with a poor defense ranking 29th in the league.

 Coaching / Strategy Notes

For the Sacramento Kings to win, they need to improve their rebounding game with 51 rebounds, to win the turnover battle, with 11 turnovers, and to let the Cavs score 15 points from them. While the Kings need to focus on their issues, the Pistons will need to improve on winning the rebound battle and limiting the Kings’ lead due to letting the Rockets get a large lead in the third quarter.

Prediction

Prediction: Sacramento Kings 103, Detroit Pistons 125

How to Watch

• TV channel/Local broadcasts: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, NBCS-CA
• Streaming: NBA League Pass
• Radio: SiriusXM

FAQ SECTION

Q: What time is the [Sacramento Kings] vs. [Detroit Pistons] game?  

A: [The game will be on at 3:00 PM Eastern time for fans on the East Coast]

Q: Who is favored to win?  

A: [The Detroit Pistons, due to being a solid offensive roster with great defensive centers and forwards.]

Q: Where is the game being played?  

A: [Little Caesars Arena]

Q: What are the betting odds?  

A: [DET -13.5, o/u 225.5]

Conclusion

“While this matchup has little on the playoff hunt, the Detroit Pistons need wins against the Sacramento Kings to show their dominance over weaker opponents. Detroit has been on fire and could continue its momentum against the Eastern Conference against weaker Western opponents before facing stronger teams.

There is also a chance that the Sacramento Kings could upset them, but the Pistons’ defense could have a strong game against a team with many turnovers this season. Bettors could have a fun game this afternoon with the Detroit Pistons, taking on the Sacramento Kings at home.