The Detroit Pistons will face the Portland Trail Blazers in an interconference battle on Tuesday night. With that said, it's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Pistons-Blazers prediction and pick.
These teams couldn't be in more different places right now. The Pistons are one of the worst teams in the league with a 4-16 record, which places them at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Detroit has absolutely no chance of making the playoffs, and to be honest, they never did. The Blazers have made the playoffs in the last several years, and they will likely repeat that this season.
This may not seem like the most exciting matchup, but there's plenty to watch for. Let's get into the pick.
Here are the Pistons-Blazers odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Pistons-Blazers Odds
Detroit Pistons: +9 (-110)
Portland Trail Blazers: -9 (-110)
Over: 216 (-108)
Under: 216 (-112)
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Why The Pistons Cover The Spread
Detroit isn't exactly known for their offensive capabilities, but they've been solid at that end recently. The Pistons are coming off a 106-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers, and they recently managed to score 102 points on the best defense in the NBA in the Golden State Warriors.
The Blazers allow 110 points per game, making them one of the worst defenses in the league. Portland also allows opponents to shoot a whopping 47 percent from the field, another one of the worst numbers in the entire NBA. This isn't a difficult matchup for Detroit's offense.
While their straight-up record is abysmal, the Pistons have been decent when it comes to covering the spread. Detroit is 10-10 against the spread on the year, which is far better than the Blazers. Portland has been one of the worst teams in the NBA against the spread, earning an 8-13 record on the season.
The books are clearly giving the Blazers a lot of undeserved credit this season, and the Pistons may be able to take advantage of that.
Why The Blazers Cover The Spread
The Trail Blazers haven't been great on defense, but their offense is undeniably elite. They score the seventh-most points in the league, and they shoot an incredible 46 percent from the field. The problem is: they won't be with Damian Lillard in the game due to an abdominal issue.
Aside from Lillard, Nassir Little and Norman Powell are also out. With that said, the bulk of the scoring workload will be put onto CJ McCollum.
Fortunately for Portland, the Pistons have been downright bad on defense, allowing 108 points per game and an insane 48 percent shooting percentage to opponents. The Blazers should be able to take advantage of that even without Lillard.
Despite their bleak against the spread record and the injuries, there is reason to believe that Portland can cover here. Head coach Chauncey Billups' squad is 7-3 ATS when they play at home, and a solid 8-7 against the spread when they enter the game as a favorite. Detroit is 9-10 when they enter the game as an underdog, so that makes things even better.
Portland is flat out better than the Pistons are, and it should show here when the Blazers defend their home court.
Final Pistons-Blazers Prediction & Pick
This is a fairly difficult pick given the absences on the Blazers. Witt that said, the over should hit comfortably here, as the Pistons seem to be picking things up on offense while the Blazers continue their great play at that end. Not to mention the defense of both teams that leaves much to be desired.
Final Pistons-Blazers Pick: Over: 216 (-112)
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