Pistons to open regular season at home vs. Orlando Magic, No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero

Detroit — The Pistons' regular-season opener will have a few more eyeballs than usual this year, as they'll begin the season with a doozy — at home against the Orlando Magic and No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero. 

The opener will be Oct. 19 at Little Caesars Arena and kicks off their schedule, released Wednesday, that's filled with optimism. The Pistons had the No. 1 pick last year and got an injection from Cade Cunningham's production in his All-Rookie Team season.

In this year's draft, the Pistons added guard Jaden Ivey, the No. 5 overall pick, to the mix, and a draft-night trade allowed them to add big man Jalen Duren to help solidify their young core. 

Though the youthful Pistons finished 23-59, they had some high points last season, including Saddiq Bey's 51-point game against the Magic. Last season was hindered by injuries to Cunningham and then-leading socrer Jerami Grant, as well as a COVID outbreak that decimated the roster.

The Pistons' schedule also includes two matchups against the Houston Rockets at home on Jan. 28, 2023 and on the road on March 21. The Rockets feature Jalen Green, the No. 2 pick in last year's draft, along with Jabari Smith, who was taken with the third overall pick in June.

In two meetings last season, Cunningham and Green each put on prolific individual performances, while leading their teams to wins in a split of the season series.

The Pistons' first road trip of the season is a three-game slate against the Knicks (Oct. 21), Pacers (Oct. 22) and Wizards (Oct. 25).

The defending-champion Golden State Warriors will visit Detroit on Oct 30. LeBron James, who is entering his 20th season in the league, will lead the Los Angeles Lakers into Detroit on Dec 11.

The Pistons’ 82-game schedule features no ESPN or ABC games. However, the team will appear on TNT once in a road game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 10. NBA TV will broadcast a Dec. 1 matchup with the Dallas Mavericks and a home contest against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 27.

The Pistons previously announced a matchup against the Chicago Bulls in Paris on Jan. 19, which will also be televised on NBATV. 

After the opener, the Pistons go on a three-game road trip, facing the Knicks, Pacers and Wizards, before a two-game set at home against the Atlanta Hawks. The league has tried to limit some of the travel that teams are making by consolidating the schedule with double-up matchups against the same team in the same city. 

The Pistons have four such combinations, including the Hawks on Oct. 26 and 28, at the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, versus the Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana on March 11 and 13. 

Although the regular-season schedule is set, the preseason schedule is still being finalized. The preseason slate includes a matchup at the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 7

Pistons 2022-23 schedule

Oct. 19 Orlando, 7

Oct. 21 at New York, 7:30

Oct. 22 at Indiana, 7

Oct. 25 at Washington, 7

Oct. 26 Atlanta, 7

Oct. 28 Atlanta, 7

Oct. 30 Golden State, 6

Oct. 31 at Milwaukee, 8

Nov. 2 at Milwaukee, 8

Nov. 4 Cleveland, 7

Nov. 7 Oklahoma City, 7:30

Nov. 9 at Boston, 7:30

Nov. 11 at New York, 7:30

Nov. 12 Boston, 7

Nov. 14 Toronto, 7

Nov. 17 at L.A. Clippers, 10:30

Nov. 18 at L.A. Lakers, 10:30

Nov. 20 at Sacramento, 6

Nov. 22 at Denver, 9

Nov. 23 at Utah, 9

Nov. 25 at Phoenix, 9

Nov. 27 Cleveland, 6

Nov. 29 New York, 7

Dec. 1 Dallas, 7

Dec. 4 Memphis, 6

Dec. 6 at Miami ,7:30

Dec. 7 at New Orleans, 8

Dec. 9 at Memphis, 8

Dec. 11 L.A. Lakers, 6

Dec. 14 at Charlotte, 7

Dec. 16 Sacramento, 7

Dec. 18 Brooklyn, 6

Dec. 20 Utah, 7

Dec. 21 at Philadelphia, 7

Dec. 23 at Atlanta, 7:30

Dec. 26 L.A. Clippers, 7

Dec. 28 Orlando, 7

Dec. 30 at Chicago, 8

Dec. 31 at Minnesota, 8

Jan. 2 at Portland, 10

Jan. 4 at Golden State, 10

Jan. 6 at San Antonio, 8

Jan. 8 Philadelphia, 3

Jan. 10 at Philadelphia, 7:30

Jan. 11 Minnesota, 7

Jan. 13 New Orleans, 7

Jan. 15 New York, 1

Jan. 19 Chicago*, 3

Jan. 23 Milwaukee, 7

Jan. 26 at Brooklyn, 7:30

Jan. 28 Houston, 7

Jan. 30 at Dallas, 8:30

Feb. 1 Washington, 7

Feb. 3 Charlotte, 7

Feb. 4 Phoenix, 7

Feb. 6 Boston, 7

Feb. 8 at Cleveland, 7

Feb. 10 San Antonio, 7

Feb. 12 at Toronto, 3

Feb. 15 at Boston, 7:30

Feb. 23 at Orlando, 7

Feb. 25 Toronto, Noon

Feb. 27 at Charlotte, 7

Mar. 1 Chicago, 7

Mar. 4 at Cleveland, 8

Mar. 7 Portland, 7

Mar. 9 Charlotte, 7

Mar. 11 Indiana, 7

Mar. 13 Indiana, 7

Mar. 14 at Washington, 7

Mar. 16 Denver, 7

Mar. 19 Miami, 6

Mar. 21 at Atlanta, 7:30

Mar. 24 at Toronto, 7:30

Mar. 27 Milwaukee, 7

Mar. 29 at Oklahoma City, 8

Mar. 31 at Houston, 8

Apr. 2 at Orlando, 6

Apr. 4 Miami, 7

Apr. 5 Brooklyn, 7

Apr. 7 at Indiana, 7

Apr. 9 at Chicago, Noon

*game played in Paris

mcurtis@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @MikeACurtis2