The Philadelphia 76ers (46-29) head to Motor City Thursday to play the Detroit Pistons (20-56). Tip-off at the Little Caesars Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the 76ers vs. Pistons odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
After a three-game winning streak, the Sixers have lost back-to-back games, at the Phoenix Suns Sunday (114-104) and to the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday (118-116). In the last two weeks, the Sixers are 4-3 straight up (SU) and 3-4 against the spread (ATS).
Detroit has lost 5 of 6 (4-2 ATS), including 3 straight games to the Washington Wizards Friday (100-97), New York Knicks Sunday (104-102) and Brooklyn Nets Tuesday (130-123).
The Sixers are 2-0 SU but 1-1 ATS versus the Pistons this season and the total is 1-0-1 Over/Under (O/U).
76ers at Pistons odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:01 p.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): 76ers -540 (bet $540 to win $100) | Pistons +380 (bet $100 to win $380)
- Against the spread: 76ers -9.5 (-105) | Pistons +9.5 (-120)
- Over/Under: 222.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
76ers at Pistons key injuries
76ers
- None
Pistons
- PF Jerami Grant (calf) out
- PG Cory Joseph (spine) questionable
[tipico]
76ers at Pistons odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
76ers 117, Pistons 111
Money line
PASS with a heavy “lean” towards the Pistons (+380) since I’m betting them to cover and typically I’ll “sprinkle” on an underdog’s money line when taking them ATS.
However, despite how profitable Detroit has been ATS, the Pistons are still a young team trying to learn how to win. I’m an early shareholder of Detroit PG Cade Cunningham’s stock but Philly All-Stars Joel Embiid and James Harden should pull this game out in the closing stages.
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Against the spread
GIMME 1 unit on the PISTONS +9.5 (-120) because they’ve played elite teams tough recently while the 76ers -9.5 (-105) have played down to their competition.
For instance, the Sixers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games versus teams with a 40.0% or lower winning rate and the Pistons are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 games versus teams with a winning record. Also, the Sixers are 4-7 ATS as 10-plus-point favorites while the Pistons are 12-7 ATS as 10-to-12-point underdogs.
Furthermore, Detroit has been profitable lately and more efficient than its record indicates. The Pistons are 10th in adjusted net rating in the last 14 days (plus-2.9) and seventh in ATS margin (plus-4.9), according to CleaningTheGlass.com.
BET PISTONS +9.5 (-120).
Over/Under
LEAN OVER 222.5 (-115) only because I’m much more confident in Detroit’s spread and there’s some reverse line movement headed south of the total.
According to Pregame.com, a vast majority of the market is betting the Over but the total has been lowered from a 225-point opener. It feels like a trap line whenever sportsbooks make the more popular side cheaper.
The Sixers are 15-5-1 O/U as road favorites with a plus-4.6 total margin and the Pistons are 6-0-1 O/U in their last 7 games versus teams with a winning record.
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