The Detroit Pistons are banged up and heading West at the wrong time. They’ll visit the Los Angeles Clippers at 10:30 p.m. ET Thursday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The Pistons (3-12) will be without second-year guard Cade Cunningham and third-year center Isaiah Stewart. Cunningham, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, is out until late November with a shin injury. Stewart is out until early December with a toe injury.
Though the Clippers (9-7) have had their own injury issues. Kawhi Leonard is out indefinitely with a knee injury, and Paul George is questionable Thursday with a hand injury. Former Piston Luke Kennard is doubtful with a calf injury.
The Clippers are favored by 9.5 points with an over/under of 216.5. A moneyline bet on the underdogs is +310.
Banged-up Pistons hope to end slide
The Pistons have lost four straight and seven of their last eight, though they beat the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 30. But missing Cunningham is particularly critical as he was averaging 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game, which ranked second, second and first, respectively, on the team.
Still, exciting top pick Jaden Ivey will be surrounded by a veteran corps and some youth infusion, with fellow first-rounder Jalen Duren getting a minutes bump.
The offense will get more difficult, though. The Pistons are third worst in scoring at 108.5 points per game, the worst team in efficiency (42.9% field goal percentage), and fifth worst on the perimeter (32.7% 3-point percentage).
The perimeter defense has been solid, holding teams to 34.1% 3-point shooting to rank seventh. But they are third worst in allowing 118.2 points per game, and opponents convert 47.9% of field goals against them.
Clippers must take care of business
Leonard’s injury is concerning after he had worked his way back into a full-time starter. Still, there are enough veterans who have played without him and George to make this game competitive.
Yet the Clippers have the league’s worst scoring offense at 104.9 points per game. Though coupled with the fourth-best defense at 106.9 points allowed per game shows that it is more about controlling a slower tempo.
The Clippers do convert 47.6% of field goal attempts, ranking seventh. Defensively, they limit teams to 44.8% from the field, the second-best mark, and 44.8% from the 3-point range, the 12th-best mark.
Pistons/Clippers Betting Prediction
Betting this game before a ruling on George is truly a gamble. The Clippers have not looked great, even with him in the lineup at times.
It’s probably why 59% of public betting data is on the Pistons to cover a rather large number. That’s even though their last four losses are, on average, by nine points per game.
Still, it seems likely the Clippers will win this game, but we’ll take the Pistons to cover +9.5 and hope that George doesn’t play. We also like the under because of the Clippers’ tempo.
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