PREVIEW: The Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons tip off Friday at 7 p.m. ET , with the Rockets' elite offensive rebounding (ranked 1st) and efficient three-point shooting (ranked 3rd) facing a Pistons defense that excels at protecting the rim (ranked 1st). After dropping a tough overtime contest to Philadelphia on Thursday, Houston finds itself tied with Phoenix for fifth place in the Western Conference with a 26-16 record. Detroit remains firmly atop the Eastern Conference standings with a commanding 5.5-game lead over Boston, riding a dominant stretch that includes seven wins in their last eight outings. The Rockets' primary weakness lies in their ball-handling and tempo, ranking 27th in passing quality and 28th in pace, while their high turnover rate (ranked 29th) presents another vulnerability. This marks the second matchup between these teams this season, with Detroit holding a 1-0 series advantage. The Pistons force considerable turnovers defensively (ranked 2nd) and attack the rim with frequency (ranked 2nd), which should create challenges for a Houston squad prone to careless play. Houston enters the second night of a back-to-back following their overtime loss to the 76ers, while Detroit looks to extend their momentum with fresh legs at home. With a healthy roster and their current form, the Pistons enter as clear favorites in what shapes up as a battle between the Western Conference's most talented scorers and the East's most dominant defensive force.