Atlanta Hawks vs. Detroit Pistons: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 10/28/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI

Where to watch: Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Southeast-Atlanta

DraftKings: Hawks -6

FanDuel: Hawks -6

BetMGM: Hawks -5.5

Caesars: Hawks -6

Hawks: 3-1

Pistons: 1-4

If you’re a fan of what could potentially be a future playoff matchup because of fun, young basketball, this matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons might be for you. If you’re also a fan of seeing how lottery-bound teams stack up with rosters that should be in the playoffs, this too is for you. Either way, basketball is for everyone and we all should be happy that this is happening.

This is the second game of a back-to-back taking place in Detroit for the second time in three days. The Hawks won 118-113 on Wednesday, a bounce-back win after losing by 17 points at home to the Charlotte Hornets for Atlanta’s first loss of the year. The Hawks are coming into this one as high as 6-point favorites at most books.

Trae Young did what Trae Young normally does, scoring a game-high 35 points and dishing out six assists in the win. Though he shot 9 of 21, Young did make 16 of his 17 free-throw attempts. Dejounte Murray had his first struggling game shooting by going 5 of 18, but made up for it with eight rebounds and eight assists with his 14 points. John Collins posted another double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and De’Andre Hunter had 17 points.

“We found a way to get stops at the end and we found a way to make baskets,” Young said. “That's all that matters.”

Clint Capela also did his part defensively with four blocks in the second half, but that defense was the only line it could put together with the Pistons keeping things close. Bojan Bogdanovic led Detroit with 33 points, and Cade Cunningham had 26 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists. He also had seven turnovers which did not help the cause, and Saddiq Bey had 17 points. First-round pick Jaden Ivey did not play due to an illness.

“I think we needed a little more organization down the stretch,” Cunningham said. “We needed to take care of the ball and get the shots we wanted. I thought we got away from our game plan a little bit, and that includes rebounding and defense.”

This can go one of two ways. The normal way is the team that wins the first of these two matchups tends to have the advantage and can win the second match. Plus, Atlanta being the better team, I’d normally take that in this instance. But with the Pistons keeping the first matchup close, I do wonder if things have changed a bit going into this second one. Cade can’t be having seven turnovers like he did the other night, nor can he not trust his teammates more. I like the way he has a feel to this game, and if he gets the likes of Bey involved more, Detroit should do something right here. I also don’t expect Murray to struggle in this one, but the Pistons should rebound. At the very least, take Detroit with the points. Hawks by 3

Hawks are 53-47 ATS as a favorite the last three seasons.

Hawks are 16-21 ATS as a road favorite the last three years.

Hawks are 38-54 ATS on the road the last three years.

Pistons are 38-29 ATS as a home underdog the last three years.

Pistons are 43-36 ATS at home the last three years.

PG: Trae Young

SG: Dejounte Murray

SF: De'Andre Hunter

PF: John Collins

C: Clint Capela

PG: Cade Cunningham

SG: Jaden Ivey

SF: Saddiq Bey

PF: Bojan Bogdanovic

C: Isaiah Stewart

Pistons: Alec Burks (foot, out), Marvin Bagley III (knee, out)

Hawks: Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee, out)

Points: Trae Young -- 27.8

Rebounds: John Collins -- 10.5

Assists: Trae Young -- 10.3

Points: Bojan Bogdanovic -- 23.2

Rebounds: Isaiah Stewart -- 10.2

Assists: Cade Cunningham -- 6.0