CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 15: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons comes off the court during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Six of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Anne Erickson

By Anne Erickson

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The Detroit Pistons won't have to wait long for a real test.

On Oct. 25, they'll head to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers at 7:30 p.m. EDT, giving Cade Cunningham and the Pistons an early chance to see where they stack up against one of the East's other big-name teams.

There's a lot to like about this game. Cunningham is one of the best young players in the NBA. The Pistons had the best record in the Eastern Conference last season. Now, the question is whether Detroit can keep that momentum going.

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That's what makes this game so interesting. The Pistons aren't surprising anybody anymore. Teams know what Cunningham can do, and they'll be coming after Detroit a little differently this season.

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CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 15: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons comes off the court during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Six of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Philadelphia will have attention on it, too, especially with LeBron James now joining the 76ers. Adding James to the mix gives this game another storyline right away. Cunningham going up against LeBron is the kind of matchup that can make an October game feel a bigger than normal.

For the Pistons, it's a chance to show that last season wasn't a fluke. They earned the best record in the East, and now they'll have to prove they can handle the expectations that come with it.

Cunningham should be at the heart of that. He's already established himself as a major player in the league, but this is the next part of his rise. The more games he plays against stars like James, the more chances he'll have to show just how high his ceiling really is.

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Philadelphia will be at home, and the 76ers will have lots of motivation to make an early statement of their own. It might only be October, but this feels like one of those games worth circling.

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