Houston Rockets vs. Detroit Pistons game preview

After two weeks of playing Western Conference teams fighting for a playoff spot, the Rockets return to Toyota Center to face... an Eastern Conference team fighting for a playoff spot.

Okay, so Detroit isn’t in the same position as those West teams who are walking a razor’s edge right now between spots 3-10. The Pistons are in ninth place in the East with a tragic number of 6. Detroit traded its first round pick to the Clippers in the Blake Griffin deal, so they have no reason not to make a playoff push until the last second.

Speaking of Griffin, the Rockets still have some unfinished business with that guy. Remember, Griffin was the biggest instigator during the secret tunnel game. You know the Rockets remember how he bumped into Mike D’Antoni on the sideline. Tonight marks Houston’s last chance to defeat Griffin and the Pistons after Detroit took the first game from Houston when James Harden was injured.

For the Pistons, Reggie Jackson has returned from an ankle sprain that sidelined him for three months. That must have been a terrible sprain. Anyway, he’s back and ready to go as the Pistons come into Houston seeking an upset.

On the Rockets’ side, Chris Paul is day-to-day with a hamstring tweak at the end of the Blazers game. I’m sure he wants to play, but Houston can finally start looking to rest guys. We’ll see what they do tonight.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CT