Roundup
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks
Perfect night for the Central, Atlantic Division roundup
Three games, three wins for the Central Division last night, with tight finishes in Detroit and Milwaukee and an offensive outburst in Chicago.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
It was a flawless night for the Central Division: three games, three wins. The Pistons, Bucks and Bulls all protected home court in high-scoring affairs that reshaped the early standings picture.
Pistons win a shootout and surge to 3-1 start
The Detroit Pistons kept their strong opening stretch going with a 129-125 win over the Toronto Raptors. In a game dominated by offense, Detroit came up with just enough stops down the stretch to secure the result. At 3-1, the Pistons own the best record in the Central for now and are setting the early pace in the division.
Bucks survive Pacers thriller as Indiana chases its ceiling
In Milwaukee, the Bucks needed every basket to slip past the Indiana Pacers 128-127. The narrow victory lifts Milwaukee to 2-3 in what has been a choppy start to the schedule.
Off the court, expectations remain high in Indiana. According to ESPN, the Pacers are counting on star point guard Tyrese Haliburton’s return and the addition of starting center Ivica Zubac to push them back into contention. The team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024 is sitting at 1-3, still trying to turn that potential into wins. Aaron Nesmith and T.J. McConnell are also cited, per ESPN, as key rotation pieces meant to support that core.
Bulls light up Minnesota, Cavs stay quiet
The Chicago Bulls delivered the offensive showcase of the night, rolling past the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-116. The home win moves Chicago to 3-2 and keeps the Bulls in a solid spot in what is shaping up as a tightly packed Central race.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were idle and remain at 1-2, still looking to find their rhythm.
On the calendar: Bucks move home opener time
Away from the court, CBS Sports reports that the Milwaukee Bucks have changed the start time of their home opener because the Brewers are hosting Game 1 of the World Series on the same night. The rare overlap between NBA and Major League Baseball forces the franchise to adjust its schedule to manage both crowds and attention in the city.