The Detroit Pistons (1-8) travel to Toyota Center Wednesday to take on the Houston Rockets (1-9). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Pistons at Rockets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
One team is going to leave tonight with two wins. However, the individual success of the teams is not the main story of Wednesday’s meeting.
In a nationally televised showing, the No. 1 overall pick, Cade Cunningham, will take on the No. 2 overall pick, Jalen Green. Green has been far more impressive and is a top favorite for Rookie of the Year.
Aside from those two, the Pistons have Jerami Grant and the Rockets have Christian Wood, both All-Star-caliber players.
The Rockets have lost eight straight after beating the Thunder by 33 earlier in the season. As for the Pistons, they defeated the Magic, meaning neither team has a victory over a playoff-caliber opponent.
The home team, Houston, will enter as favorites. Despite just one win, the Rockets are 5-4-1 ATS and the Pistons are just 3-6 ATS.
Pistons at Rockets odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:10 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Pistons +133 (bet $100 to win $133) | Rockets -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Pistons +3.5 (-108) | Rockets -3.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 210.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Pistons at Rockets key injuries
Pistons
- PG Killian Hayes (thumb) probable
Rockets
- SG Kevin Porter Jr. (thigh) questionable
Pistons at Rockets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Rockets 108, Pistons 102
Money line
PASS on the money line.
Two one-win teams facing off poses interesting money line odds. However, while I think Houston will come out on top with relative ease, I still wouldn’t take that at -165.
I’d rather take the points in this scenario.
Against the spread
BET the ROCKETS -3.5 (112) as they’re actually a competent side.
As you can see in the spread, the Pistons have a ton of bad losses and are just 3-6 ATS. Detroit’s minus-11.9 net rating is the worst in the NBA. The Pistons are dead-last in true shooting percentage, the only team shooting below 50 percent.
While the Rockets have just one win as well, they’ve hung in games, which is why they typically cover large spreads. They rank 26th in net rating at just minus-7.1.
The availability of Porter Jr. will be critical, and I’d wait to bet until his status is announced. Overall, the Rockets’ side is the far better play in this one.
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the UNDER 210. 5 (-110) as the Pistons offense is just awful. They rank dead-last in offensive rating and are solely dependent on Grant as the Pistons don’t have many quality options.
Detroit has been just horrible from the field. The Pistons are shooting under 40 percent from the field. No team has ended a season shooting under 40 percent from the field in 25 years. Detroit is historically bad at shooting.
Now, the Rockets are the top team in the league in pace. They push the ball, and that could be the style of this game which is why I lean to the Under and will not place a full unit on it.
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