The Central Division rivals will meet again Friday night when Cleveland visits Detroit. The Cavaliers (38-20 SU, 28-30 ATS) went to overtime against Chicago on Wednesday, but lost 132-123, as -5.5 road favorites. The Pistons (9-49 SU, 30-28 ATS) also faced Chicago in their last game, but won 105-95, as +10 road underdogs. These two will announce things at 7:10 a.m. EST from Little Caesars Arena.
Cleveland tries to maintain its second place
The Cavaliers sit in second place in the Eastern Conference, eight games behind Boston in first but just a half-game back of Milwaukee. They have gone 2-3 SU over their last five games, averaging 112.8 points per game. This season, Cleveland’s offense is scoring 114.7 points per game, 15th in the NBA, and they are shooting 48.3% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range. They average 13.4 threes and 16.1 free throws per game and the Cavs turn it over 12.7 times per night. Their assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.06 ranks 10th.th generally. Evan Mobley recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 25 points and 11 rebounds. It was the Cleveland forward’s seventh double-double in his last 12 games.
On the defensive side of the ball, Cleveland allows 109.7 points per game, the second-best mark in the NBA. Teams are shooting 45.5% from the field against them and 36.1% from beyond the arc. Opponents are also making 12.1 threes and 17.3 free throws against the Cavs each night. Cleveland grabs 44.7 rebounds per game, seventh in the league, and has a rebound differential of +2.1. Their defense also manages 7.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game. Mobley stopped four shots alone last time out. He has nine in his last three games and an average of 1.8 in his last 12 games.
Detroit has a chance to recover
With perhaps more credit to Washington’s fall, the Pistons are no longer alone at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. On a 1-4 SU streak over their last five games, the offense has scored 108 points per game. The Pistons are averaging 112.7 points per game on the year, 22sd in the NBA, and they are shooting 47.4% from the field and 35% from three-point range. They average 11.3 three-pointers and 17 free throws per game, and generate 14.9 turnovers per game, the second most in the league. They also have an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.71.28th in the league. Cade Cunningham led the team in scoring for a fourth straight game, scoring 26 points on 9-13 shooting with three threes. The Detroit guard has averaged 28.5 points over the last four games.
The Pistons defense is giving up 121.3 points per game, 27th in the NBA. The teams are shooting 49.2 percent from the field against Detroit and 37.6 percent from three-point range while losing 11.8 threes and 21.3 free throws against them each night. They are averaging 43.6 rebounds per game this season and have a +1 rebound differential in their favor. The Pistons defense also adds six steals and 4.9 blocks to the mix each night. Jalen Duren pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked three shots against the Bulls. Over his last four games, the Pistons center averaged 14 points, 12.5 rebounds and two blocks per game.
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Best Bets
Full Game Side Bet
Rating:
This is the fourth and final meeting between these two this season. The first three meetings have seen Cleveland go 3-0 SU while Detroit is 3-0 ATS. All four games between these two this season have seen Cleveland as a favorite by at least nine points. The last game was in late January and Detroit lost by just seven on the road after shooting 55.6 percent from the field. In their three games against Cleveland, the Pistons shot 48.2% overall, so they tend to shoot better against the Cavs than most other clubs. Detroit is 12-10-1 ATS as a home underdog this season with a MOV of -8, according to TeamRankings.com. They are 3-0 ATS in their last three games and 3-0 ATS in their last three against the Cavs. Cleveland is 0-7 ATS in its last seven games.
Take the Pistons to score points.
Prediction: Detroit +10
Total choice of the complete game
Rating:
The first three games between these two this season have averaged 222.7 points per game, going 2-1. This season, the score is 31-26-1 in Detroit games and 26-31-1 in Cleveland games. The Pistons rank 10th in pace, according to DunksandThrees.com, but the Cavaliers are 24th and they tend to let their defense dictate things when they are in control. Over their last ten games, Cleveland has allowed 106 points or fewer in six of them. Detroit’s offense has scored 106 or fewer in four of its last ten games. The under is 6-1 in the last seven games between these two.
Take the bottom.
Prediction: Under 233.5
