Game: Charlotte Hornets @ Detroit Pistons
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Odds: Hornets -7.5, Pistons +7.5
Total: 226.5
It’s a battle of two teams each with six-game losing streaks tonight in Detroit. The Hornets are the NBA’s second-highest scoring team, but they have been slumping. The 109 points they scored in a loss to Chicago on Wednesday night was the most they have scored since the end of January. With Charlotte playing so poorly and playing on the road tonight, it’s almost hard to believe they are a 7.5-point favorite. Then, you realize they are playing Detroit.
The Pistons, like Charlotte, have lost six straight. Unlike Charlotte, Detroit has just one win in its last 11 games. Detroit has the worst record in the NBA (12-43) and they are coming off a 132-107 loss to Memphis just last night. The Pistons did acquire Marvin Bagley III from Sacramento before the trade deadline. He is questionable for tonight as is rookie No. 1 draft pick Cade Cunningham, who has a hip injury. Regardless of whether or not Bagley and Cunningham play, tonight could be a long one for the Pistons.
While Charlotte can fill it up – 113.3 points per game, 4th in NBA – what the Hornets don’t do very well is play defense. In their last ten games, Charlotte has given up 113 or more points eight times. On Wednesday night, they gave up 121 to the Bulls. The Hornets allow opponents to score 114.3 points per game which, miraculously, is not the worst in the NBA. Charlotte is 28th overall.
Detroit isn’t much better ranking 26th in points allowed per game (112.3), but the Pistons’ real struggle is on the offensive end. If not for Orlando, the Pistons would rank dead last in the league in three-point shooting percentage, overall field goal percentage, and scoring offense (102.2). Over their last four games, Detroit is averaging 97.8 points and was twice held under 95 points.
The poor defense and lack of scoring on the offensive end makes it difficult for the Pistons to cover spreads. They have covered once in their last six games. Detroit is 26-29 ATS for the season and, surprisingly, is 14-13 ATS at home.
Charlotte has been a team that bettors could get behind, until lately. The Hornets are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games, but they are 31-25 ATS for the season. On the road, they have covered in 15 of the 26 games they have played. They have also done well as a road favorite this season. In five such games, the Hornets are 4-1 SU and 3-1-1 ATS.
As bad as these two defenses are, both teams trend Under. The total has gone Under in each of the Hornets’ last six games and in four of the Pistons’ last six. In the Hornets-Pistons series, the Under has also been the trend. Ten of the last 12 in the series have seen the Under cash a winning ticket.
Charlotte has won ten in a row against Detroit. The Hornets are 8-2 ATS in those ten games.