by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Jan 31, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Where to watch: BSDET, BSNO
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Pistons -1.5
BetMGM: Pistons -1.5
Caesars: NL
Season record
Pelicans: 18-32 (12th, West)
Pistons: 12-37 (14th, East)
Yet again, another huge week for Ben Burns going 10-2-0 in the NBA. What more can be done here to keep this run going? Check out what his plays are for Friday and find out! Catch Ben's plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Pelicans - Pistons preview, analysis and prediction
The New Orleans Pelicans played well in their loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, but I feel they will be in for a rough go on the second night of the back-to-back on Tuesday at the Detroit Pistons.
And why wouldn’t we buy high on the Pistons after their performance against said Cavaliers on Sunday, rallying from an early first-half hole to get one of Detroit’s signature wins of the season?
Saddiq Bey dropped 31 points on 11 of 20 shooting, and Cade Cunningham had a triple-double of 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Pistons to only their 12th win of the season. The difference is we continue to see where the Pistons are improving, highlighted by the No. 1 overall pick in this past summer’s NBA Draft.
Cunningham has moved his averages up to 16.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game and is inching closer to a 40 percent shooting clip.
"I can't let myself be a prisoner to whatever happens in the first half," Cunningham said after not scoring in the first half. "We made adjustments, and they made adjustments, and I have to be ready to do what I need to do. I have to throw away the first half."
The Pistons have been a reliable group at the books this season, going 25-24 against the spread and even 13-10 ATS at home. In non-conference games, the Pistons have also been above .500 at 11-10. Combine that with how they’re even climbing the ranks as a League Pass team, things are getting exciting in Detroit.
And after such a high of beating the Cavaliers, taking on a New Orleans team that’s down All-Star forward Brandon Ingram on a SEGABABA seems like easy pickings for Detroit. The Pelicans lost 93-90 in Cleveland on Monday, sans Darius Garland.
Devonte’ Graham had 20 points and Jaxson Hayes chipped in with 19, but the Pelicans clearly missed Ingram as their primary scorer.
The Pelicans dropped to 9-16 against the spread on the road this season, but are 12-9 ATS in non-conference games.
The key to this game, though, is Detroit being 6-1 ATS in its last seven at home and even going 5-1 in their last six overall. They’ve been reliable at the books as of late, and with the line opening at just 1.5, and with more rest, I’d trust the Pistons to handle business at home. Pistons by 10
Betting trends
The over is 4-0 in the Pelicans' last four Tuesday games.
The Pelicans are 1-5 ATS in the last six road games against a team with a home winning percentage below .400.
The under is 4-1 in the Pelicans' last five road games.
The Pistons are 1-4 ATS in their last five Tuesday games.
The Pistons are 4-0 ATS in their last four off one day rest.
Projected starting lineup
Pelicans:
PG: Devonte' Graham
SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
SF: Josh Hart
PF: Herbert Jones
C: Jonas Valanciunas
SF: Josh Hart
PF: Herbert Jones
C: Jonas Valanciunas
Pistons:
PG: Cory Joseph
SG: Cade Cunningham
SF: Saddiq Bey
PF: Jerami Grant
C: Isaiah Stewart
SF: Saddiq Bey
PF: Jerami Grant
C: Isaiah Stewart
Key injuries
Pelicans: Brandon Ingram (ankle, out), Zion Williamson (foot, out)
Pistons: None
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this New Orleans Pelicans - Detroit Pistons 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.
