by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Nov 18, 2022
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Where to watch: SPECSN, BSDET
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Lakers -7
FanDuel: Lakers -7
BetMGM: Lakers -7
Caesars: Lakers -7
Season record
Pistons: 3-13
Lakers: 3-10
What a thrilling start to the NBA season, and it's time to get your picks in for what should be an enticing season. A lot of new faces in new places already making an impact, and our champion handicappers are already starting to take notice. Look at our own Jack Banks off to a 3-0-0 start in the NBA this week. Nelly's Sports is also at 4-0-0 while Jim Feist has also cashed on his first two of the year. As the season progresses, you know we're going to be in a position to deliver you the best analysis and picks that one can have in this market. Make sure you check out our Best Bets page at bigal.com to find all of our handicappers' selections, comprehensive previews, and more!
Pistons - Lakers preview, prediction and analysis
Recent form
Pistons: lost 96-91 at Clippers on Thursday
Lakers: won 116-103 vs. Nets on Sunday
The Los Angeles Lakers had some time off. Will that start a winning streak, or will it continue what might be the most insanely bad start to a season with two superstars on its roster that we’ve ever seen? The 3-10 Lakers will host the 3-13 Detroit Pistons, who are dealing with injuries of their own, on Friday at Crypto.com Arena.
The Los Angeles Lakers had some time off. Will that start a winning streak, or will it continue what might be the most insanely bad start to a season with two superstars on its roster that we’ve ever seen? The 3-10 Lakers will host the 3-13 Detroit Pistons, who are dealing with injuries of their own, on Friday at Crypto.com Arena.
What’s going on with the Lakers isn’t something we need to go over. There’s nothing that’s working for this group. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are hardly in the lineup and when they are, I’ve never seen a more frustrated superstar tandem in this league. But maybe there’s good fortune on the way with the Lakers having won 116-103 on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets.
LeBron will be back for this one, but if the Lakers get the version of Davis that dominated on Sunday, things could be looking up. Davis had 37 points and 18 rebounds in the win over the Nets, and Lonnie Walker IV had 25 points on 9 of 15 shooting.
"You've gotta take the message and not the tone of the person's voice," Davis said. "The main guy who a lot of us had to get used to for that was Pat. But he gives good messages."
If there’s one thing that’s gone right for the Lakers so far, it’s the decision to move Russell Westbrook to the bench and be that super Sixth Man. Even though he had 14 points, Westbrook had 12 assists and six rebounds and also blocked Kevin Durant so hard that they’ll hang it in the Louvre.
One thing you can’t hang up is the Pistons because they’re ugly right now. I don’t want to totally poo-poo on the Pistons, but having lost five in a row for the second time this season is not my definition of a good time.
It hasn’t been a help without Cade Cunningham has been out with a sore left shin, but could be back in the next few days. Instead, it has to come down to Bojan Bogdanovic scoring 26 points, but he can’t be your leading scorer every game. Jaden Ivey scored 18 points on 8 of 21 shooting in a 96-91 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
"I love our compete level," Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. "For a young team to come in (against) one of the top teams in the West and to compete that way (was positive). And guess what: We've got another one to get strapped up (Friday) night and be ready to roll. This league is unforgiving, but we've got to bring that same compete level on the defensive end."
Some times that’s all you can ask for if you’re Dwane Casey, but man, I don’t know how much more of this the man can take in coaching this team that’s just one giant injury or giant question mark.
Prediction
With LeBron back, this should be a walk in the park for the Lakers. The Pistons nearly beat the Clippers the other night because of the tough shot making, but that won’t need to be a thing this time around. Lakers by 15
Betting trends
Pistons are 49-31 ATS after scoring 105 points or less the last 3 seasons.
Lakers are 24-40 ATS as a home favorite the last 3 seasons.
Lakers are 5-16 ATS off a home win by 10 points or more the last 3 seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Pistons:
PG: Killian Hayes
SG: Jaden Ivey
SF: Bojan Bogdanovic
PF: Isaiah Livers
C: Marvin Bagley III
Lakers:
PG: Dennis Schroder
SG: Patrick Beverley
SF: Lonnie Walker IV
PF: LeBron James
C: Anthony Davis
Key Injuries
Pistons: Cade Cunningham (shin, out)
Lakers: None
Statistical leaders
Pistons:
Points: Bojan Bogdanovic -- 20.5
Rebounds: Isaiah Stewart -- 9.3
Assists: Cade Cunningham -- 6.0
Lakers:
Points: LeBron James -- 24.9
Rebounds: Anthony Davis -- 11.2
Assists: Russell Westbrook -- 7.2
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Detroit Pistons - Los Angeles Lakers prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
