Houston Rockets vs Detroit Pistons Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/23/2026

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Friday, January 23, 2026

Venue:  Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI 

Where to Watch:  Prime Video

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Rockets +3.5, Pistons -3.5; Over/Under:  217.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Rockets +3.5, Pistons -3.5; Over/Under:  217.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Rockets +3.5, Pistons -3.5; Over/Under:  217.5 points

Houston Rockets:  26-15 (2nd place, Southwest Division)

Detroit Pistons:  32-10 (1st place, Central Division)

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Houston Rockets:  5-5 last 10

Detroit Pistons:  8-2 last 10

The Rockets are entering this game with a 26-15 record overall this season and they are 11-12 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 3 game winning streak with wins coming against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the San Antonio Spurs, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Philadelphia 76ers still to be played on Thursday night. In their game against the Spurs, Reed Sheppard led the team in points in that game with 21 while Alperen Şengün was next on the team with 20 points. Alperen Şengün led the team in assists in that game with 9 while Alperen Şengün led the team in rebounds with 13. They were 51.8% from the field, 37% from 3-point range, and 68.2% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 117 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 110.5 PPG against them. The Rockets have an ATS record of 20-21 this season and their O/U record is 19-21-1.

The Pistons are entering this game with a 32-10 record overall this season and they are 17-4 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 4 game winning streak with wins coming against the Phoenix Suns, the Indiana Pacers, the Boston Celtics, and the New Orleans Pelicans. Jalen Duren led the team in points in that game with 20 while Daniss Jenkins was next on the team with 17 points. Daniss Jenkins and Marcus Sasser each led the team in assists in that game with 4 while Jalen Duren led the team in rebounds with 15. They were 44.3% from the field, 38.5% from 3-point range, and 79.2% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 117.2 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 109.9 PPG against them. The Pistons have an ATS record of 22-20 this season and their O/U record is 17-24-1.

The current betting odds have the Pistons listed as a 3.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Pistons have looked great in their games this season with their 32-10 record overall which has them right at the top of the East with one of the best records in the entire NBA. They have looked great on their home court too with their 17-4 home record this year. Meanwhile, the Rockets have looked good in their games this season with their 26-15 record overall which has them in the top half of the West. They haven't been a good road team though with their 11-12 road record this season. The Rockets have been starting to roll again with 3 wins in a row now, but those wins were also at home where they have looked like a different team this year. They haven't looked that great lately overall, going 5-5 in their last 10 games, and they aren't in a good situation here either. They have struggled a lot in their road games this season and now they are on the road on a back-to-back with a tough game against the 76ers on Thursday. That is not going to be an easy game for them so it will be tough for them to have their best effort for the Pistons in this one. The Pistons have looked like one of the best teams in the NBA all season and they have been rolling in their games lately too. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games as they have been getting hot again and they have a ton of momentum on their side with 4 wins in a row now. The Pistons haven't seen a team this year that they can't compete with and they have looked so good on their home court too, look for them to take advantage of the Rockets in a bad situation here. The best way to place a bet here is on the Pistons to cover the spread in this game. 

Rockets Pistons Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Friday, January 23, 2026 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Pistons 117 Rockets 108.

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Houston Rockets: 2-6 ATS revenging a same season loss vs opponent. 3-7 ATS versus good foul drawing teams - attempting 27 free throws/game or more. 1-4 ATS when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 70%). 8-2 UNDER revenging a straight up loss vs opponent as a favorite. 

Detroit Pistons: 4-1 ATS against Southwest division opponents. 5-2 ATS versus good rebounding teams - outrebounding opponents by 3+ per game. 6-1 UNDER after 3 or more consecutive unders. 8-4 UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%).

Houston Rockets:  A. Holiday (PG) Day To Day - Back. S. Adams (C) Out - Ankle. F. VanVleet (PG) Out For Season - ACL.

Detroit Pistons:  C. LeVert (SG) Day To Day - Illness. C. Cunningham (PG) Day To Day - Illness.

“We had good energy the whole game. When we cut the lead a little bit there in the fourth quarter, it was just ‘keep fighting, keep staying together, we’re close, keep putting the pieces together and go on a big run’. And that’s what we did. It was a great team effort.” - Reed Sheppard after their win against the Spurs in their game on Tuesday.

“These guys have overcome a lot in the past years. And that’s the reason why they’ve been able to grow and continue to take steps. Because when things got the hardest for this group, they didn’t separate from one another. They rallied around one another and bought in more to each other, believed in each other that they could, and that’s why they find themselves in this position now.” - J.B. Bickerstaff on his team’s improvement this season.

PG Amen Thompson

SG Kevin Durant

SF Tari Eason

PF Jabari Smith Jr.

C Alperen Sengun

PG Cade Cunningham

SG Duncan Robinson

SF Ausar Thompson

PF Tobias Harris

C Jalen Duren

PPG: Kevin Durant (25.9)

APG: Alperen Sengun (6.4)

Reb/G: Alperen Sengun (9.3)

PPG: Cade Cunningham (25.7)

APG: Cade Cunningham (9.8)

Reb/G: Jalen Duren (10.9)

Coaches:

Houston Rockets: Ime Udoka (3rd season)

Detroit Pistons: J.B. Bickerstaff (2nd season)