The NBA regular season continues with games on Friday. The Washington Wizards will hit the road and take on the Detroit Pistons. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Wizards-Pistons prediction and pick.
These are two teams in the bottom of the barrel in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards have totally gone in the tank without Bradley Beal in the lineup, falling out of contention for the play-in tournament by losing eight of nine. The Pistons have one of the worst records in the NBA, but they are coming off an impressive victory and have shown a bit of life lately with rookie Cade Cunningham at the helm.
Here are the Wizards-Pistons NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Wizards-Pistons Odds
Washington Wizards: +4 (-115)
Detroit Pistons: -4 (-105)
Over: 222 (-110)
Under: 222 (-110)
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Why The Wizards Could Cover The Spread
The Wizards showed some promise at the beginning of the season, but they have since sunk toward the bottom of the league rankings. Through 72 games they have a losing record of 30-42 and are actually listed as underdogs in Detroit. The Wizards have struggled to find wins in the second half of this season and are coming off a 12-point loss to a Milwaukee Bucks team that didn't even have Giannis Antetokounmpo or Khris Middleton available.
With Bradley Beal out for the season and Kyle Kuzma also hurting right now, the Wizards have basically called it a year. Without these players, Washington just isn't the same team. It's currently looking like Kuzma will be out again, but keep an eye out on his status.
The Wizards are still trying to get Kristaps Porzingis acclimated after the big trade ahead of the deadline, so there's at least something still to play for in terms of getting him involved. Porzingis has had his moments with his new team, including a big performance last weekend against the Los Angeles Lakers. If KP can get going against this young Pistons squad, Washington could come away with a victory, or at least cover the spread.
Why The Pistons Could Cover The Spread
The Pistons are just 20-53 on the season and have been one of the worst teams in the NBA all season. However, they are actually coming off an impressive 21-point victory over the Atlanta Hawks. The Pistons looked great in that game behind big performances from rookie Cade Cunningham and veteran Jerami Grant, and if they can bring that same energy to this game on their home court, they should be able to come out with a win.
Detroit's win over the Hawks was impressive on many levels. First off, the margin of victory was one of the best for the Pistons all season long. Most people assumed Detroit wouldn't win, let alone win by 20-plus points.
The next most impressive thing was the fashion in which they won. The Pistons put forward one of the best team efforts of the season. Eight out of 10 roster members scored in double digits, with Grant's 21 leading a balanced attack. One of them who didn't (Isaiah Stewart) contributed 10 rebounds and the other player (Jamorko Pickett) only played five minutes. Almost every player on the floor got an equal chance to make an impact and they rose to the occasion. Cunningham was even a ridiculous plus-43 in the box score. This type of basketball is what allows teams like Detroit to take down teams like Atlanta.
While injuries are somewhat of a concern for Detroit, the situation is not too bad. Currently, the Pistons have three role players listed on their injury report, all of whom are listed as out. Everyone who played in the Pistons' last game against the Hawks will be available for Friday's matchup. The Pistons will look to build on their impressive win and add another one to the win column on Friday, and there's a great opportunity to do so.
Final Wizards-Pistons Prediction & Pick
This is a deceptive matchup. From a bird's-eye view, it seems weird that the Wizards are underdogs, but it only takes a little bit of examination to see that maybe they should be even bigger underdogs. Washington is missing some of its best guys, and unless Kristaps Porzingis has a monster night, the Pistons should grab a win on their home court. Detroit has looked surprisingly good lately and should be your pick. Pick the Pistons to win and cover.
FINAL WIZARDS-PISTONS PICK: Detroit Pistons -4 (-110)
FINAL WIZARDS-PISTONS SCORE PREDICTION: Pistons 108 – Wizards 103
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