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How to watch the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Detroit Pistons – NBA (1/4/25) | Channel, stream, preview

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How to watch the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Detroit Pistons – NBA (1/4/25) | Channel, stream, preview


DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons continue their four-game homestand on Saturday night, as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half of their back-to-back.

  • Watch the Detroit Pistons on FuboTV (7-day free trial)

The Pistons continue to roll as the New Year continues on. Despite losing to the Denver Nuggets in their final game of 2024, the team has kicked off 2025 with a couple of solid wins. After taking down the Orlando Magic on New Year’s Day, Detroit followed that up by hanging on to beat the lowly Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, 98-94.

Tobias Harris led the Pistons with a double-double, scoring 24 points with 10 rebounds, while Jalen Duren also posted a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Detroit is now ninth in the Eastern Conference, two games behind the Miami Heat for sixth.

The Timberwolves come into the Motor City after suffering a tough 118-115 loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday. It marks back-to-back defeats for Minnesota, who had won three straight games before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder on New Year’s Eve. The Timberwolves are fighting to stay close to sixth place in the Western Conference. They are currently 10th, two games back of the Dallas Mavericks.

This is the first of two meetings between the two teams this season. The T-Wolves won both matchups with the Pistons last year.

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NBA BASKETBALL

Minnesota Timberwolves (17-16) vs. Detroit Pistons (16-18)

When: Saturday, January 4

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Where: Little Caesars Arena (Detroit, Mich.)

Channel: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit

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Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), DirecTV Stream

Check out the NBA standings and results on NBA.com



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Minnesota

Big Plays by Vikings Defense Early Not Enough in Detroit

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6 hours ago

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January 6, 2025

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Big Plays by Vikings Defense Early Not Enough in Detroit


Detroit’s next series was upended by another turnover of sorts, this time a stop on fourth-and-1 that was caused by Jonathan Bullard tipping Goff’s pass at the line of scrimmage. It returned the ball to Minnesota with three-and-a-half minutes left in the first half – and a prime opportunity to double-dip.

But they botched that chance, too, tasking Reichard with another field goal after fading at Detroit’s 13.

“This game could look differently in the end, very easily, with one or two more plays down in the red zone, being successful, and the way that works with momentum, and the way that works for the energy of your whole team. I thought the guys fought. I thought they battled,” Kevin O’Connell said. “They answered the bell, in that first half, turning the football over, giving us ops, getting stops. … We were going to go down there and try to get seven points, and we just didn’t do it. And you’re not going to beat a team like that, regardless of some of the other metrics in the game, when the weighty downs kind of go the way it did, and weighty as they get. They don’t get more weighty than scoring plays.”

Minnesota’s inability to capitalize offensively lingered in the third quarter, when Smith plucked an overthrown ball for Williams out of mid-air. Again, Reichard kicked a field goal.

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To understand how well Minnesota’s defense played early look at the difference in second-quarter performance – a good indicator being it has been the most productive frame for the Lions this season in terms of yards (120.9) and points (10-plus) – Sunday and Week 7: The Vikings yielded 65 yards on 18 plays (3.6 avg.), and just three points, versus 202 yards on 17 plays (11.9 avg.) and 21 points in October.

Eventually, however, Gibbs stole the show.

The second-year phenom compiled 170 scrimmage yards and scored all four of Detroit’s touchdowns. He did it via a blend of untouchable speed, uncanny vision between the tackles and a serious finishing burst.



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Vikings vs. Lions score, live updates: Detroit, Minnesota face off for the NFC's No. 1 seed in 2024 NFL finale

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13 hours ago

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January 5, 2025

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Vikings vs. Lions score, live updates: Detroit, Minnesota face off for the NFC's No. 1 seed in 2024 NFL finale


Game 272 of the 2024 NFL regular season is a special one. In a year where so much of the playoff dust settled early, one Week 18 game stands out, not just for this season but in the history of the league, with the 14-2 Minnesota Vikings taking on the 14-2 Detroit Lions in the first regular-season game between two teams with 14 wins. The stakes are simple but extremely high: the winner is the NFC North champion and the No. 1 seed, with a first-round bye in the loaded NFC; while the loser is the No. 5 seed and will open the playoffs on the road during wild-card weekend. If the game should end in a tie, Detroit would win the division and be the 1-seed, thanks to winning the first matchup between the teams back in Week 7.

No matter how the game ends, this will be the first time in league history a wild-card team will have 14 wins. The only time a wild-card team had 13 wins in a season was 1999, when the 13-3 Tennessee Titans finished second in the AFC Central to the 14-2 Jacksonville Jaguars. Tennessee won the AFC championship game in Jacksonville that season before losing to the Rams in Super Bowl 34.

Live29 updates

  • Jalen Nailor on 3rd and 5 for a Vikings 1st down

    After a Sam Darnold scramble to make it a 3rd-and more manageable, he found Nailor who slithered into Lions territory — and perhaps field goal range. The gain was 18 to the Detroit 36 at the two-minute warning. The Vikings have all three timeouts.

  • Unexpectedly low scoring first half in Detroit

    The teams were largely expected to light up the scoreboard, and while there’s still time for both offenses to get going, it’s just 7-3 with 4th down stops on both sides here in the first half.

  • Lions turn it over on 4th and inches

    Vikings tipped a pass after the Lions went play action and Jonathan Bullard got the tip. Vikings take over at their own 41.

  • Three-straight incompletions and a field goal for Minnesota

    Will Reichard makes the field goal, but Minnesota has to be thinking it should have more. The Vikings’ last seven offensive snaps have come inside the 10-yard-line, and they’ve protected Sam Darnold against some Lions blitzing, but some plaster man coverage — and couple of high Darnold throws — have saved Detroit, which now leads 7-3 with 6:35 left in the half.

     

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  • Vikings come up with tip-drill interception!

    Josh Metellus got the tip and Ivan Pace Jr. snags the pick and the Vikings start a drive with 1st and goal.

  • Lions avoid disaster, pick up a first down

    Jared Goff nearly sacked in the end zone, but was able to get it in the area of an eligible receiver. Perhaps a questionable call, but Jahmyr Gibbs was in the area. The Lions were able to pick up the 3rd and 5 to at least give themselves some room.

  • Lions hold on 4th down on the 3-yard-line

    The pass was too tall for Jefferson from Darnold, and Detroit gets a stop. This round of the chess match between Aaron Glenn and Kevin O’Connell goes to the Detroit defensive coordinator.

    Lions to take over at their own 3-yard-line with 10:10 to go in the first half.

  • Justin Jefferson, welcome to Week 18

    The Vikings’ offensive line has been excellent in the early going, and was great on this play to get Minnesota a first down.

  • Jonathan Greenard sacks Jared Goff on 3rd down

    Minnesota quickly cleans up to force a punt, and the Vikings will take over around the 50-yard-line, looking to even up the score early in the second quarter.

  • Andrew Van Ginkel. Hit stick.

  • Some ELITE company for Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit

  • Vikings to punt after the sack

    That’s a quick three-and-out, and it’s looking like the Lions are swarming on defense to close the first quarter with a 7-0 lead.

  • Za’Darius Smith with an enormous first down sack to back the Vikings up

    Minnesota will now have 2nd and 27 in the shadow of their own goal posts.

  • Lions cash in conversion with Jahmyr Gibbs 25-yard touchdown run

    Great patience by Sonic with his 17th touchdown — tying the single-season Lions record — and the Lions are on the board first with a 7-0 lead.

  • Lions pick up HUGE 4th down

    Jared Goff stands in against a 0-blitz and Jameson Williams marches Detroit to the 25.

  • Amon-Ra St. Brown with the first big one of the game

    A catch and run of 23 yards to get Detroit on the move on its second drive has the Lions across midfield for the first time.

  • The NFL wild card schedule is out

    For more on the schedule and the playoff bracket, click here.

  • Hockenson couldn’t pull it in on third down

    The Vikings and Lions trade punts on their first drives. Minnesota had a false start on a 2nd and 4 that backed them up and hurt the momentum of the drive, and after a return to the 22, the Lions’ offense will have a second crack at it.

  • Aaron Jones makes first down catch

    The first-year Viking make the play on a 3rd down to move the sticks for the second first down of their opening drive.

  • Minnesota’s offense takes over

    The Vikings entered Week 18 12th in total offense and 9th in scoring offense. They’re likely to need to put some points up to keep up with the Lions, who come into Week 18 leading the NFL in scoring at 33.3 points per game.



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Key Matchup: Justin Jefferson vs. Lions’ Secondary

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21 hours ago

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January 5, 2025

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Key Matchup: Justin Jefferson vs. Lions’ Secondary


Aaron Glenn’s secondary is going to be undeniably tested on Sunday night against the Vikings. 

And it’s not just because Minnesota signal-caller Sam Darnold is enjoying a breakthrough campaign, with a career-best 35 touchdowns and 4,153 yards to his name. Instead, it’s also due to the Vikings’ deep receiving corps, which is highlighted by Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson.

Addison has caught 62 balls for 875 yards and nine touchdowns through 14 games this season, while Jefferson leads the way with 100 catches, 1,479 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Jefferson has cemented himself as not only Minnesota’s best pass-catcher, but also one of the most prolific receivers in today’s game.

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Now in his fifth NFL season, the LSU product has amassed north of 1,000 receiving yards each year, including a league-best 1,809 yards in 2022. During the aforementioned ‘22 campaign, he also caught an NFL-high 128 passes, and recorded a league-best 106.4 receiving yards per game and earned first-team All-Pro honors.

Fast-forward to the 2024 campaign, a season in which he’s found himself catching passes from Darnold. Jefferson has established a tremendous rapport with the former journeyman quarterback, and so much so that he ranks No. 2 among all pass-catchers in receiving yards this season.

Additionally, in his first meeting with the Lions this season (Week 7), he caught seven balls for 81 yards and a score. At that juncture, Detroit’s secondary was still equipped with its top cornerback, Carlton Davis. That is no longer the case, though, as Davis suffered a fractured jaw in Week 15 against the Bills and hasn’t played a single snap since.

Report: Alex Anzalone to Play Against Vikings, Snap Count Monitored

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson looks back after catching a pass against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson looks back after catching a pass against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field / David Rodriguez Munoz / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jefferson has a chance to feast on Sunday against a Lions cornerbacks group that is now led by rookie Terrion Arnold and veteran defensive back Amik Robertson. Arnold and Robertson have each struggled this season, with zero interceptions to their names and Pro Football Focus pass-coverage grades of 48.8 and 62.1, respectively.

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I’m expecting Jefferson to be a matchup nightmare for both Arnold and Robertson on the outside, as well as for the Lions’ secondary as a whole. Detroit has been subpar at defending the pass all season long. In fact, it’s allowed the second-most passing yards to opponents (4,006), plus the most yards per game to opposing wide receivers (per PFF).

Glenn had high praise for the standout Vikings receiver earlier this week. 

“I think he’s one of the toughest guys playing in that position,” the Detroit defensive play-caller expressed. “He’s an old-school player, in my opinion. It’s almost like he’s a defensive guy playing receiver.”

In nine career games against the Lions, Jefferson has produced 69 receptions for 1,154 yards and four touchdowns. Four of those games have come at Ford Field, in which the game-changing wideout has amassed a staggering 43 catches for 730 yards and two scores.

On Sunday, I’m predicting the three-time Pro Bowl receiver to finish with eight catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.

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