The Detroit Pistons (19-34) are visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder (31-20) at Chesapeake Energy Arena for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off Friday. We analyze Pistons-Thunder odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Pistons at Thunder: Key injuries
Pistons
- SG Bruce Brown (thumb) available
- SG Khyri Thomas (foot) out
- SG Svi Mykhailiuk (hip) out
- PG Derrick Rose (groin) out
- PF Blake Griffin (knee) out
- SG Luke Kennard (knee) out
- PF Markieff Morris (illness) out
Thunder
- SG Andre Roberson (knee) out
Pistons at Thunder: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11:25 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Thunder 116, Pistons 101
Moneyline (ML)
HARD PASS ON THE MONEYLINE in this Pistons-Thunder matchup. Detroit (+600) has won two of its previous three games but Oklahoma City (-909) has won eight of its previous 10 and has beaten the Pistons in four of their last five head-to-head meetings. The Pistons aren’t offering good enough odds to justify betting a team with a 4-15 straight-up record as a road underdog and taking the Thunder isn’t worth the risk.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Thunder to win outright returns a profit of just $1.10.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The Pistons have waived the white flag on the season after trading two-time All-Star Andre Drummond to the Cleveland Cavaliers before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. Drummond led the Pistons in rebounds and blocks per game, defensive rating and was second on the team in points per game, behind Rose, who could miss Friday’s game due to injury. The absence of those two players gives the Pistons pretty much no matchup edges from a personnel standpoint. Along with their terrible win/loss record as a road dog, the Pistons are 5-13-1 against the spread with a minus-9.1 margin of victory.
On the other side, the Thunder stood pat at the trade deadline and are the far healthier team coming into Friday’s game. Oklahoma City has the best ATS record in the NBA at 34-17. With no Drummond in the mix, the Thunder should have a much easier time controlling the glass against a Pistons team ranked 27th in rebounds per game and 23rd in defensive rebound percentage. Additionally, the Thunder are ranked seventh in field goal percentage and should get quality looks against the Pistons who are ranked 27th in opponent field goal percentage.
BET THUNDER -12.5 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
Detroit has the most Overs in the NBA with a 33-20 Over/Under record. What’s fascinating about that is the Pistons rank 22nd in points per game and a mediocre 17th in opponent PPG. From what I gather, their O/U record is mostly due to bookmakers’ setting a lower total since the Pistons don’t have prolific scorers the average bettor would back.
TAKE OVER 212.5 (-115) because of Detroit’s propensity to go Over projected totals, the juiced-up line and since we need the Thunder to cover a huge spread.
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