The Detroit Pistons visit TD Garden Wednesday evening as the Boston Celtics look to take care of business at home ahead of a meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks Jan. 16.
The 27-11 Boston Celtics aim for another three-game winning streak against the 14-27 Detroit Pistons, on a three-game losing streak of their own this Wednesday at TD Garden at 7pm ET.
Despite being in a four-way tie with the Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards for ninth place in the East, rumbles that the franchise is pivoting to a rebuild are reflected in the team’s recent record, having won just three of their last 10 contests.
Second-place Boston, on the other hand, seems to be emerging out of a funk which took hold of the team around the start of the new year, the Celtics having won six of their last 10 games.
The Celtics will be playing without center Robert Williams III (hip) as he continues to recuperate, and he may be joined by big man Daniel Theis, who is listed as ‘questionable’ due to right knee soreness.
There is a chance forward Jayson Tatum sits as well, listed as ‘probable’ with the same issue the German center has been dealing with.
With the league-leading Milwaukee Bucks playing Boston the following evening, it wouldn’t be out of the question to give the Duke product a night to rest.
Tatum is currently the only Celtic who has not missed a game this season.
Detroit is without All-NBA forward Blake Griffin due to knee issues driving the pivot to a rebuild, and shooting guard Luke Kennard (knee) will also sit.
Center Christian Wood (right knee soreness), shooting guard Khyri Thomas (foot) and point guard Reggie Jackson (back) may also miss the tilt.
Boston has both a talent and health advantage in this contest, which is reflected by average online sportsbook spreads of -10.5 for the Celtics.
Detroit’s likeliest path to a win would simply be a return to the malaise haunting the Celtics slow starts earlier in the month, with Boston’s mind being on the looming showdown with the Bucks.
As long as the Celtics can stay focused on this game, a win should be forthcoming.
Lonzo Ball led the New Orleans Pelicans to a big road win against the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
Lonzo Ball had one of his more interesting games of the season in Detroit on Monday. With the Pelicans down four of their five regular starters not even including Zion Williamson, Ball was moved into a leadership role by necessity on the night.
The result was Ball finishing with a season-high 23 field goal attempts including nine from range. Ball was not his normally efficient self but still finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in the overtime win.
While one game offensive, defensive and net ratings are often full of extra noise, the Pelicans did have a 12.6 net rating in 46 minutes with him on the court and a -25.0 net rating in the six minutes he was off the court.
Ball also came up with some big plays in the extra session, finishing with five points and four rebounds in overtime. With New Orleans fighting for a playoff spot, the win was particularly important and continued a string of impressive wins in recent weeks as the team trends back toward .500 on the year.
After a big win on the road on Monday against the Pistons, New Orleans Pelicans center Jahlil Okafor had high praise for Lonzo Ball.
With four of the five regular starters out injured on Monday, Lonzo Ball was thrust into an unfamiliar role as a leader in Detroit. While he was not particularly efficient on the night, he embraced the role as New Orleans earned an overtime win over the Pistons,
Jahlil Okafor was particularly big in the win, finishing with 25 points and 14 rebounds in the win. During his on-court interview after the game, though, Okafor noted how important Ball was on the night and how important he’s been this season.
“It was amazing. He’s so easy to play with. He’s such a good player. He makes everybody’s life easier. We’re very fortunate to have him.”
Ball played 46 minutes on the night, a career-high in minutes played in a game. His 23 shots were a team-high on the night. Likewise, his 131 touches were far and away the most of any player in the game.
More than just statistics, the Pelicans needed Ball as an offensive initiator. Ball played the final 9:31 of the fourth quarter and was vital. In the 2:29 he didn’t play to start the quarter, the offense failed to score and squandered a big lead.
It was a sign of development from Ball as he continues his progression as an NBA point guard. Ball controlled the game despite not scoring in the fourth quarter and helped the Pelicans to a big win.
Vastly undermanned, the New Orleans Pelicans hung on to force overtime in Detroit on Monday before controlling the extra session to win 117-110 over the Pistons.
Vastly undermanned, the New Orleans Pelicans hung on to force overtime in Detroit on Monday before controlling the extra session to win 117-110 over the Pistons.
The Good: Overtime
There’s a lot of things that could be the good takeaway tonight but it’s the overtime session that takes the cake. After collapsing in the fourth quarter, seeing its lead crumble and managing just 13 points total. Fortunately, Derrick Rose’s game-winner at the end of regulation bounced long and the sides went to overtime.
And after its putrid offensive showing in the fourth, the Pelicans scored 15 points in the overtime to close out a huge road win. Nicolo Melli made some big plays and hit some big shots as did Lonzo Ball. In the end, that was enough to earn the victory.
Honorable Mentions: Jahlil Okafor, Frank Jackson, Melli’s overtime
The Bad: Turnovers
On top of the fourth quarter being horrible, the Pistons were largely only in the game due to miscues by the Pelicans. New Orleans finished with 19 turnovers that Detroit turned into 29 points, outscoring the Pelicans by 19 points in points off turnovers.
Turnovers have been a problem throughout the year. On Monday, it was a little more explanatory with so many players in unfamiliar positions but doesn’t make it any more acceptable.
The Ball: Inefficient but important
A look at the stat line would show a largely inefficient night for Ball. Despite again flirting with his second triple-double of the day with 17 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, Ball shot just 7-of-23 from the field and turned the ball over seven times.
However, like the rest of his teammates, Ball was in a different role than normal. As the lone regular starter on the night, Ball was leaned upon more heavily than normal. But he came up with some big plays down the stretch and did enough to help the Pelicans to the win which is all that matters at the end of the day.
The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons with a chance to get back into the playoff race in the Western Conference.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs Detroit Pistons
When: Monday, Jan. 13, 7:00 p.m ET
Where: Smoothie King Center
How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans
After being blown out on the road on Saturday, the New Orleans Pelicans end their road trip on Monday with a chance for a bounceback win in Detroit. The Pistons are a side plummeting quickly, having won just three of their last 14 games.
As the Pelicans continue to battle back into the playoff race, the good news is that the rest of the bottom of the Western Conference has done nothing to separate itself. New Orleans remains four games back of the eighth seed.
In Detroit, the Pelicans have another opportunity to take a step back into the playoff race again. In the last meeting between the two sides, a Derrick Rose jumper late was the difference. But since that game, Detroit has ranked last in the league in defensive effective field goal percentage, per Cleaning the Glass. Likewise, the team is last in the defensive rating since that game and 29th in net rating.
Previewing Monday’s New Orleans Pelicans at Detroit Pistons sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The New Orleans Pelicans (14-26) visit the Detroit Pistons (14-26) Monday at Little Caesars Arena. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. ET. We analyze the Pelicans-Pistons sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
The Pistons are the 11th in the Eastern Conference, while the Pelicans are 14th in the west.
The PELICANS (-106) have begun digging themselves out of a deep hole in the standings, as they’ve won seven of their last 10 games, though, they were routed 140-105 by the Boston Celtics Saturday. They’re 7-14 on the road for the season. The Pistons (-115) have the more dire injury concerns and they’ve won just three of their last 10 games, including back-to-back losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers (115-112) and Chicago Bulls (108-99) Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
Detroit is just 8-12 at home for the season. Back the visitors, especially if Favors, Holiday and/or Redick are able to suit up.
Stick with the more profitable moneyline and PASS on the spread, with the Pelicans (+1.5, -106) getting just one point of insurance in the event of a loss as the underdogs. New Orleans is 18-20-2 against the spread overall and 8-11-2 on the road, while Detroit (-1.5, EVEN) is 14-25-1 ATS overall and 8-11 at home.
The Pistons claimed a 105-103 victory in the season’s first head-to-head meeting in Nola, but Favors was out of the lineup the first time around.
Take the UNDER 224.5 (+105). Both sides are riddled with injuries and entering off of a day of rest. Expect inefficient shooting performances and tighter defensive play from both teams. The Pistons have been held below 100 points in two of their last four games.
Esten’s NBA betting record: 139-108
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With the Detroit Pistons reportedly open to trading any player on their roster, there are several NOT named Andre Drummond the Boston Celtics should consider.
January is a month of reckoning for NBA front offices.
Teams are starting to reassess their goals from the start of the season, with the month being the last run of games a franchise can take stock of how well the parts they started the season work together, and whether changes need to be made.
For some teams, the month won’t be needed, and the Detroit Pistons have made up their mind they are one such club.
With a 14-26 record and All-NBA forward Blake Griffin likely to miss the rest of the season with the same knee issues that ended his 2018-19 run, it’s clear the team won’t be competing for postseason success.
And with star center Andre Drummond all but certain to opt out of the final season of his current deal, it makes sense the team has been looking to move the big man while he still might have trade value.
Several league folks have told me #Pistons willing to talk trade on any player on the roster so not surprising. https://t.co/OzqSzWfbdZ
The Boston Celtics have been linked to the UConn product, but the assets likely needed to deal for the former Husky don’t make much sense for the Massachusetts franchise.
Team president Danny Ainge has made it clear he won’t trade away key players for a short-term rental, and with Drummond making $27 million this season on an expiring deal, a trade for Big Penguin is unlikely.
However, the Detroit Free Press’ Vincent Goodwill reports the team will listen to trade proposals about any player on the roster, and there are a few the Celtics should consider making calls about.
Detroit has several players on affordable contracts who might be able to help the Celtics in the postseason, but some may come at too high a cost for the team to reasonably hope to pry them away, while others may not be such a good fit for Boston’s style of play.
Derrick Rose, for example, would be an intriguing backup point guard for Boston, but much of the success driving his resurgence with the Pistons is due to his adept ability as a pick-and-roll player, which the Celtics do not use often in head coach Brad Stevens’ pace-and-space system.
Third-year shooting guard Luke Kennard could be an interesting option, but the price might be steep due to his age (just 23) and excellent shooting — he’s 40.2 % from beyond the arc over his career, and logged 6.5 attempts a game last season.
His defense is bad, but he’s young and would play on the second unit alongside Marcus Smart, mitigating what you’d lose on that end of the court.
Finding a match for $3.8 million Kennard is owed this season would be uncomplicated. That he has another year afterwards for a bargain $5.2 million would make some difficult payroll decisions involving Gordon Hayward potentially easier to weather.
Should the Celtics pursue Markieff Morris if he’s bought out? I would say yes. Am I saying that because I hope his quotes would be as good as Marcus’ quotes?
Forward Markieff Morris might offer many of the same benefits on the offensive end of the court with the twin of former Celtic Marcus logging a career-high 40.2 % from beyond the arc on nine attempts per season.
While his defense isn’t as good as Mook’s, he’s also a big body who could help with filling the frontcourt. Earning just $3.2 million, he’s also easy to match salaries with, and would likely only require a younger player and a second-round pick to secure.
Fourth-year center Thon Maker could be an interesting depth big target, a serviceable rim protector against the reserve lineups he’d mostly face. His low salary ($3.5 million) and ability to stretch the floor a bit are added perks.
Center Christian Wood is another target on the Pistons Boston could go after.
Only earning $1.6 million, the 24-year-old journeyman has been pulling down 5.2 boards and blocking 0.8 block per contest over just 16.8 minutes per game while hitting 35.7 % of his 3-pointers at 1.6 attempts per game.
None of these players will catapult Boston into the realm of title favorites, but there may not be such a trade out there anyway.
But, there may be trades to be made around the margins that could help set the stage for a balanced roster in future seasons while raising the team’s floor this season — if not with Detroit, then the next team to cautiously wave the white flag on the current season.
Expect a team or two each week this month to come to terms with the reality of their record and roster as we inch closer to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
While a trade that gives both instant gratification and concrete results may simply be out of reach, the natural arc of the NBA season should shake out intriguing trade and buyout option over the next several weeks.
HoopsHype ranks the five players who have popped up the most in trade rumors over the past week, including Kevin Love and Andre Drummond.
There hasn’t been a shortage of NBA trade rumors over the past week, and as we get closer to February, the scuttle will only continue to become more frequent, a trend we’re already starting to see now, in early January.
Below, HoopsHype ranks the five players who have popped up the most in rumors on the site’s Trade page over the past week.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
5. DEWAYNE DEDMON, SACRAMENTO
Following his trade request, Sacramento Kings big man Dewayne Dedmon was fined $50,000 by the NBA for making “public statements detrimental to the NBA and its teams.”
Surprisingly enough, however, Dedmon returned to the Kings’ rotation on Jan. 7, likely due to the plethora of injuries to Sacramento’s frontcourt rotation, and acquitted himself nicely, dropping 12 points, 10 rebounds and one three-pointer while posting a plus-33 plus/minus.
That type of audition could make Dedmon more appealing to the contending teams searching for a big man who can space the floor and protect the paint, but his price tag (he’s on Year-1 of a three-year, $40 million contract with a partial guarantee on the final season) could scare some of the interested parties away.
For what it’s worth, the Kings are reportedly willing to hear offers on the big man, but won’t take back bad salary that could hurt their future cap flexibility, per NBC Sports’James Ham.
However, the Knicks reportedly don’t have plans to move Morris at the moment, per Yahoo Sports, though we all know how quickly things could change if New York receives the right offer.
And the right offer could very well come along soon (as in one containing a first-round pick), especially when you factor in Morris’ high level of play this season and the fact that he’s on an expiring contract. Those two factors, plus New York not being in contention for a playoff spot this year, make Morris a prime trade candidate.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
3. KYLE KUZMA, LA LAKERS
The closer we get to the 2020 NBA trade deadline, the more it looks like Kyle Kuzmawill be one of the players traded. He’s struggled through injury and acclimation with his new role so far this year, and he’s averaging 12 points on a career-low 42.5 percent shooting for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Originally, most of the reports coming out of L.A. stated that the Lakers were willing to hear offers for their third-year forward, but weren’t going out of their way to trade him.
However, the most recent report on Kuzma’s trade candidacy, courtesy of the Los Angeles Times, stated that it was actually Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka who called the Kings in order to gauge their interest in the Utah product, and not the other way around as many originally believed. That makes a whole lot more sense, because Kuzma doesn’t even fit on Sacramento’s roster all that well, not with all of the young frontcourt depth they already have.
This situation is one to monitor, but Kuzma’s poor fit on the new-look Lakers could, and probably will, lead to his departure prior to next month’s deadline. His spot on the roster would be better used on an additional bench playmaker for Los Angeles.
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
2. KEVIN LOVE, CLEVELAND
The situation in Ohio between Kevin Love and the Cleveland Cavaliers has had moments of pure ugliness, including last weekend when Love blatantly showed up his teammates and head coach in the middle of a game. And that came on the heels of a report that stated Love had gotten into it with his general manager Koby Altman.
The five-time All-Star went on to apologize publicly for his actions and ended up unpunished by his team, but it’s clear at this point this pairing needs a split, and that the Cavs need to find a trade partner to take the floor-spacing power forward.
Even so, Love desperately wants out of Cleveland, that much is obvious without even having to read the latest reports, so the Cavaliers might have to bite the bullet and attach assets in order to get rid of him, lest they allow him to have more flare-ups of bad attitude that could prove harmful in their young, rebuilding locker room.
Makes sense, too, considering the Pistons are struggling mightily due to injury on the year and have an expensive roster that could use a complete reset. What’s more, because Drummond is set to hit free agency this summer (all but certain, as he has a player option on his deal for next year), Detroit would be wise to move him and land a few assets that could help them with the rebuild to come.
Veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein recently revealed that a source of his believes Drummond will be moved within the next month:
As for Pistons center Andre Drummond … one source briefed on Detroit's attempts to trade Drummond expressed confidence this week a deal to move Drummond will materialize before the Feb. 6 trade deadline
And a local reporter in Detroit thinks the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics could be interested in the two-time All-Star center.
On the year, Drummond is averaging 17.5 points, a league-leading 16.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.9 blocks per game – monster averages that should pique the interest of motivated teams around the Association.
You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.
Previewing Thursday’s Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.
The Cleveland Cavaliers (10-27) and Detroit Pistons (14-24) square off for the second time in three days, this time at Little Caesars Arena Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Cavaliers-Pistons odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.
Cavaliers at Pistons: Key injuries
Cavaliers
PG Dante Exum (illness) out
PF Larry Nance Jr. (knee) out
SF Kevin Porter Jr. (knee) out
SG Dylan Windler (shin) out
Pistons
PF Blake Griffin (knee) out
PG Reggie Jackson (back) out
SG Luke Kennard (knee) out
PF Markieff Morris (foot) out
SG Khyri Thomas (foot) out
Cavaliers at Pistons: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 10:30 a.m. ET.
The Pistons (-294) are just too expensive in the second end of this home-and-home. It wouldn’t be advised to risk three times your investment on any team, let alone lowly Detroit Basketball. AVOID.
The CAVALIERS (+7.5, -121) are catching nearly four buckets from the Pistons (-7.5, +100). The Pistons defeated the Cavs 115-113 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Tuesday. The Cavaliers are 3-8 ATS in the past 11 games on the road, so you’d be going against the grain a little here. They’re also just 1-4 ATS in the past five overall.
However, the Pistons are 3-9 ATS in the past 12 games overall, while going 1-5 ATS in the past six games overall. They should pull out a win against their Lake Erie rivals, but they won’t win by more than four buckets.
The OVER 221.5 (-106) is worth a small-unit play, as the total has inched over the line in each of the past five meetings. The Over is also 4-0 in the past four for Cleveland, and 8-3 in its last 11 away from home.
For the Pistons, it’s been all about the Over lately, too. The Over is 7-0 in their past seven as a favorite, 5-1 in the past six at home and 7-2 in the previous nine games overall, too.
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Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose are proving there’s still value in last generation’s superstars.
THROWBACK TUESDAY: Carmelo Anthony was waived by the Bulls, following his failed stint Houston, on Feb. 1 of last year. After spending the rest of that season, the entire summer and the early part of 2019-20 without a team, or even an inkling of interest league-wide,Anthony finally landed with the Blazers, who were struggling mightily and in need of help.
Well, Anthony has provided that help. On the season, the 10-time All-Star is averaging 16.5 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 41.1 percent from three, one of the 25 most-accurate marks in the Association this year. And just last night, on the road with Portland needing a bucket to earn a tough win on the road at Toronto,Anthony came through with a beautiful throwback pull-up midrange jumper to seal the game for the Blazers.
Anthony wasn’t the only vintage star to hit a game-sealing bucket last night either. Derrick Rose had one of his own for Detroit,sinking a pretty elbow floater for two of his 24 points on the evening. Rose, who’s averaging over 17 points nightly on 48.6 percent shooting, is just the165th-highest paid player this season.
Anthony and Rose are doing a great job of reminding NBA front offices, most of whom are mostly focused on the analytics these days, that there can be huge value found in trusting the league’s aging stars. They may not be the prototypical shot-takers for the modern game, but players like Anthony and Rose, or even Chris Paul, know how to get buckets, and can still help teams win. The three of them proved it last night, after all.
💰 It was an easy call for both sides, as Davis basically turned down what would have been a four-year, $145.7 million extension and instead will be eligible to sign a five-year, $201.8 million deal this offseason. That’s if he signs with the Lakers, of course, which everyone still expects him to do.
