The Sixers want to capitalize on the upward momentum, starting with the Detroit Pistons

Saturday night’s game against the Pistons in Detroit provides a good opportunity for the 76ers to get a rare win. But the question is: will they finally use it?

Similar to recent games against the Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets, the rested Sixers (3-14) face a Pistons team playing its second game in as many nights.

They were defeated by the Heat 106-89 on November 18, leading to their highly publicized team meeting. Two nights later, the Sixers suffered a 117-111 loss to the Grizzlies. And on Wednesday, the Rockets outscored them 122-115 in overtime.

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The Sixers believe their performance against Houston was a step in the right direction that they will be eager to build on against the Pistons.

Detroit entered Friday’s NBA Cup game against the Indiana Pacers with an 8-12 record after losing four of five games.

“Like any back-to-back tournament, if the opportunity suits the schedule or the timing that you think is favorable, you have to take advantage of it,” coach Nick Nurse said. “Listen, we had our chance, certainly the other night (against Houston). And even if you got to overtime you had to feel really good because I think we had a good feel for the game and some confidence.”

However, the Sixers couldn’t get the deal done after rallying from an early 18-point deficit to force overtime against Houston.

However, there is a possibility that Paul George and Caleb Martin return to face the Pistons, with both players listed as questionable.

George participated fully in practice Friday after missing the last three games because of a bone bruise in his left knee that resulted from hyperextending his knee against the Grizzlies on Nov. 20. Martin missed Wednesday’s game because of upper back pain.

“The plan is always to try to play,” Martin said Friday about the game against the Pistons. “Of course it’s day by day. Like I said, I had a good day today. …I’m definitely feeling better. I’m trying to get back to that point.

“So I take it day by day. I don’t know how many times people have suggested to me not to play and then I do.”

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Joel Embiid (recovering from left knee injury/personal reasons) and Kyle Lowry (strained right hip) will remain sidelined.

The Pistons are also struggling with injuries.

Former Sixers small forward Tobias Harris, who missed Wednesday’s game against Memphis with a left hip injury, was questionable for their road game against Indiana. That includes standout point guard Cade Cunningham, who missed the last three games with a lower back sprain.

Harris and Cunningham helped defeat the Sixers 105-95 on Oct. 30 at the Wells Fargo Center.

It was a game in which the Sixers trailed by as many as 21 points and were outrebounded 49-37. They also only made eight of 28 three-pointers because Embiid and George were both sidelined.

Harris had 18 points on 8-for-18 shooting and a season-high 14 rebounds.

Jaden Ivey led Detroit with 23 points. Cunningham added 22 points and seven assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. (16 points and 5 of 7 three-pointers) and backup Malik Beasley (11 points) were Detroit’s other double-digit scorers. Tyrese Maxey finished with 32 points on 12-for-25 shooting. However, the Sixers All-Star teammates shot 21 for 54. And even that was misleading, as the Sixers ended the game with a 10-0 run in garbage time.

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They are focused on playing solid basketball in the return game.

“At the end of the day, you have to do your job,” Martin said. “Just because the guys are in a back-to-back duel doesn’t mean the guys are turning around.”

The Sixers found that out against the Heat, Grizzlies and Rockets.

“We have to come in and learn how to capitalize on whatever it is, no matter what night it is,” Martin said. “We need to figure this out first, so it doesn’t matter if we’re on a front end or a back end of a back-to-back situation.”