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Luke Littler ‘not under any pressure’ despite disappointing Premier League start

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3 weeks ago

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Luke Littler is not feeling any pressure after losing his opening match in the Premier League last week.

The 19-year-old was beaten on night one in Newcastle by Gian van Veen, who gained some revenge for his heavy World Championship final defeat in January.

Things do not get much easier for Littler in Antwerp on Thursday as he faces Luke Humphries in the opening match.

The pair have embarked on a great rivalry in the last two years and faced each other nine times in last season’s tournament alone.

Littler most recently beat Humphries in the World Masters final at the start of the month, where his opponent called him “the greatest dart player to ever live”.

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Littler was due to speak to the media on Wednesday afternoon but the press conference was cancelled at short notice, without reason.

However, in a short interview with Sky Sports, he said: “Every stage is different in my opinion.

“I’m not under any pressure and I don’t need to put pressure on myself.

“I know I lost to Gian on night one, but last year I lost to Michael van Gerwen as well.

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“There’s still 15 weeks left, so as long as I get into the top four, that’s all that matters.”

Van Veen believes ending his Littler hoodoo last week will set him up for a successful campaign.

The Dutchman was soundly beaten in the final at Alexandra Palace in January and then went down to him in the Saudi Arabia Masters later in the month.

But he defeated Littler in his Premier League debut before going on to lose the final against Van Gerwen.

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Van Veen said: “I think the most important part is to win your first game, especially playing in this for the first time.

“It’s something you don’t want to do, spend three, four weeks not winning any games, and then it starts getting to you.

“So I think that was the most important part. But also to get one over Littler.

“I said it last week as well. Luke Littler is not someone you want to lose five or six matches in a row against, because then next time he will be 2-0 up against you already.

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“So you need to bite back at him a couple of times. That’s what I did last week. So I think that’s going to help my campaign for the coming weeks as well.”

Van Veen will face off against Gerwyn Price, Van Gerwen takes on Josh Rock and Jonny Clayton versus Stephen Bunting completes the quarter-final line-up.

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Detroit Pistons vs San Antonio Spurs Preview: Starting Lineups Tonight, Betting Tips and Game Prediction (Mar. 5)

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6 minutes ago

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5 March 2026

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The Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs lock horns in a regular-season game at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday, with tipoff at 8 p.m. EST. It is the second matchup between the two teams this season, with the Spurs winning the first encounter 114-103.

The Pistons suffered a 113-109 loss in their previous game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. They no longer hold the best record in the league, but remain in first place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 45-15 record.

Meanwhile, the Spurs destroyed the Philadelphia 76ers 131-91 in their previous outing on Tuesday. San Antonio remains in second place in the Western Conference standings with a 44-17 record.

Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview, Starting Lineups Tonight, Betting Tips and Game Prediction

Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs Betting Tips and Odds

Moneyline: Pistons (+132), Spurs (-156)

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Spread: Pistons +3.5 (-111), Spurs -3.5 (-111)

Total over/under o/u: Pistons o228.5 (-111), Spurs u228.5 (-111)

Editor’s note: Odds might change closer to tipoff.

Betting Tips

  • Victor Wembanyama is expected to record over 3.5 blocks.
  • Cade Cunningham is expected to record under 23.5 points.
  • Jalen Duren is expected to record over 11.5 rebounds.

Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview

Cade Cunningham has been hot and cold of late, which has adversely affected the Pistons. Against the Cavaliers, Cunningham scored 10 points on 16 shots, while turning the ball over five times. Detroit needs its best player to raise his level and bounce back with an MVP-level performance against the Spurs.

Jalen Duren has been the Pistons’ best player recently, averaging 25.5 points and 13.7 rebounds on 64.4% shooting. He enters this matchup after winning the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. The Pistons need him to win his matchup against Victor Wembanyama, just like he did when the two teams met last month.

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Meanwhile, the Spurs will face a much stronger challenge against the Pistons than they did against the Sixers on Tuesday. San Antonio made Philadelphia look like a G League team and shot over 55% from the field, including 40% from beyond the arc.

The starters delivered a rollicking performance as usual, and the bench contributed handsomely as well, with rookie Dylan Harper putting on a show off the bench. The young guard made eight of his 11 shots en route to 22 points. Keldon Johnson scored 12 off the bench, helping the Spurs record the most dominant win of their campaign.

Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineups Tonight

Detroit Pistons starting lineup

PG: Cade Cunningham, SG: Duncan Robinson, SF: Tobias Harris, PF: Ausar Thompson, C: Jalen Duren.

San Antonio Spurs starting lineup

PG: De’Aaron Fox, SG: Stephon Castle, SF: Julian Champagnie, PF: Devin Vassell, C: Victor Wembanyama.

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Detroit Pistons vs. San Antonio Spurs Prediction

The Spurs are at home and already beaten the Pistons once this season. San Antonio would be confident of getting the job done once again and we expect Wembanyama to lead his team to yet another victory.

Final score prediction: Spurs win 111-105.