Pistons Lose to Cavaliers as Bickerstaff Talks Gambling Scandal
The Detroit Pistons ran into a buzzsaw Monday night, dropping a tough one to the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-95 at Little Caesars Arena. Donovan Mitchell poured in 35 points, and by the time the Cavs finished a 14-0 run in the second quarter, the game was mostly out of reach.
Honestly, this one was tough to sit through. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around and Bickerstaff emptied his bench, I found myself flipping back and forth between Monday Night Football and this game. The energy in Little Caesars Arena had drained out, and you could almost feel it through the TV — the Pistons couldn’t find a spark. It wasn’t about effort so much as frustration, and at that point, all you could do was hope they’d regroup for the next one.
It wasn’t just a bad night on the scoreboard — the Pistons are also dealing with injuries, lineup changes, and off-court headlines that no team wants to navigate.
A Rough Night in Detroit
The Cavs have now beaten the Pistons in 13 of their last 14 meetings, and this one wasn’t close after halftime. Cade Cunningham struggled, finishing with only 12 points on 3-for-14 shooting and committing five of the team’s 25 turnovers.
Cleveland took control early and never looked back, building a 22-point halftime lead that ballooned to 35 at one point. Detroit just couldn’t get anything going offensively or defensively — sloppy turnovers, slow rotations, and no real answer for Mitchell’s scoring tear.
Adjusting to a New Offensive Look
Detroit’s offense simply isn’t built the same this year. Losing guys like Malik Beasley, Dennis Schroeder, and Tim Hardaway Jr. took away the outside shooting that gave last year’s team some spacing.
It’s evident that on-court team chemistry is a work in progress, and there are no guarantees that it will rise to the level of last year’s squad.
The hope was that new addition Duncan Robinson could fill that role, but he hasn’t found his rhythm yet. Robinson’s always been a near-40% three-point shooter, but so far, his shots just haven’t fallen. Until he heats up, the Pistons will need to grind out points the hard way — inside and at the line.
The Malik Beasley Situation
Beasley’s future is still cloudy. He was terrific for Detroit last season — averaging 16 points and shooting 41% from three — but his offseason was derailed by an ongoing gambling-related investigation.
He’s been cleared in the federal part of the case but still faces league review. The uncertainty has hurt his free-agency market, turning what looked like a multi-year deal into what might end up being a short-term prove-it contract.
Until things settle, Beasley remains on the sideline, and the Pistons are feeling his absence.
Bickerstaff Speaks Out on Gambling Concerns
Before Monday’s game, Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff spoke about the growing gambling issues around the NBA — something that hit closer to home this week with the arrest of Chauncey Billups, the former Pistons star now coaching the Portland Trail Blazers.
According to a Department of Justice press release and reports from ESPN, Billups was charged along with more than 30 others in a federal case tied to illegal gambling and high-stakes poker games. Officials say he was released pending a court appearance.
Bickerstaff, who’s known Billups since middle school, called it a “scary situation.”
“The information that our guys have — just normal stuff from a shoot-around or practice — that kind of info gets monetized now. You have to be extremely careful,” Bickerstaff said via ESPN.
“When you get in bed with sports betting and gambling, there’s a lot of things that come with it. All money ain’t good money.”
He said he feels for Billups personally but believes the league has to keep educating players and staff about the risks tied to gambling partnerships and insider information.
Injury Woes Keep Stacking Up
As if things weren’t challenging enough, Detroit’s injury list keeps growing.
Caris LeVert (knee), Marcus Sasser (hip), and Jaden Ivey (knee) are all sidelined. Ivey’s expected to miss about four weeks after a minor knee procedure, while LeVert and Sasser are day-to-day with lingering issues.
That leaves the Pistons short on ball-handlers and perimeter threats — not ideal for a team trying to find its rhythm. Take a look at this pregame injury report—it didn’t look good.
What’s Next
The Pistons get a chance to bounce back on Wednesday, Oct 29, when they host the Orlando Magic. Orlando’s also trying to figure things out after three straight losses, so it’s a good opportunity for Detroit to right the ship.
Cade Cunningham will need to lead the way, but taking care of the ball might matter more than anything else. After 25 turnovers against Cleveland, the Pistons can’t afford a repeat if they want to get back in the win column.
Sources: Department of Justice press release (Oct 27 2025); ESPN.
Concept cover image created for Mitten Sports Talk. Visual representation, not an actual game photoAnalysis by Mitten Sports Talk staff.
