The Brooklyn Nets (18-8) travel to Little Caesars Arena Sunday to take on the Detroit Pistons (4-21). Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Nets vs. Pistons odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Coming off a win over the Hawks on Friday night, the Nets will be playing the last of their four-game road trip. With a win, they’ll head back home with a 3-1 road trip record.
That said, the Nets are 10-15-1 against the spread (ATS) this season yet are 5-5 ATS as road favorites. James Harden will be out, leaving the bulk of the scoring duties to Kevin Durant.
KD won’t have to deal with Jerami Grant who will also be out. Down their best player, the Pistons will ask No. 1 overall pick, Cade Cunningham, to handle the offensive load.
So far this season, Detroit is 12-13 ATS and 5-5 as a home underdog. The Pistons are coming off a tough 16-point loss to the Pelicans.
Nets at Pistons odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:03 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Nets -320 (bet $320 to win $100) | Pistons +250 (bet $100 to win $250)
- Against the spread (ATS): Nets -7.5 (-102) | Pistons +7.5 (-122)
- Over/Under (O/U): 211.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Nets at Pistons key injuries
Nets
- G James Harden (rest) out
- F Paul Millsap (personal) out
- G Joe Harris (ankle) out
Pistons
- F Jerami Grant (thumb) out
Nets at Pistons odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Nets 107, Pistons 101
Money line
PASS on the money line. The Nets without two of their three best players at -320 isn’t worth any wager. The Pistons do have nice value at +250, but I’d rather take the points.
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the PISTONS +7.5 (-122) as the better pick on the spread. A Sunday game at the end of a road trip without your second-best scorer seems like a trap game for the Nets.
Additionally, while the Nets have the fifth-best defensive rating this season, over the last three games, all of which have been on the road for Brooklyn, it ranks 13th.
The Pistons aren’t necessarily a great team, but without Grant, they may actually get more efficient. Grant is shooting just 41.4% on the season, helping make Detroit the second-most inefficient team in the league.
Riding an 11-game losing streak, the Pistons need to stay competitive in this one. They’ve been better at home and should be able to cover.
Over/Under
BET on the UNDER 211.5 (-107) as the Nets could play sloppy basketball to end this road trip.
Coming off a big-time win in Atlanta, the Nets are primed for a trap game, especially on a Sunday. Without their second top scorer, I expect them to struggle offensively. Durant, over his last five games, is 4-or-20 from three.
Similarly, the Pistons are without their top scorer and are already one of the worst shooting teams in the league. They also rank 23rd in turnover rate, so it may be difficult to hang onto the ball.
Put it all together, and the Under feels like the better play.
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