by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Dec 28, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Where to watch: BSDET, BSFL
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Magic -1.5; Magic -130, Pistons +110; O/U 228.5
FanDuel: Magic -1; Magic -118, Pistons +100; O/U 229.5
BetMGM: Magic -1.5; Magic -125, Pistons +105; O/U 229.5
Caesars: Magic -1.5; Magic -125, Pistons +105; O/U 229
Season record
Magic: 13-22
Pistons: 8-28
Well, if you’ve never seen a balanced NBA season to this point, you’re in for some craziness along the way. A lot of new faces in new places already making an impact, and our champion handicappers are already starting to take notice. The last 30 days have seen our champion handicappers cashing in a great deal. Look at Brian Bitler going 80-55-0 in the last 30 days, a run of $18,800 net profit. How about ASA, Inc.? He’s on a 55-41-2 run the last 30 days. You know where to go for your best analysis. 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!
Magic - Pistons preview, prediction and analysis
Magic analysis
It's not completely over for the Orlando Magic though I think a lot of people may have taken that six game-winning streak they had and heightened it just a little bit. But there's no denying that what Orlando has done over the last few weeks has been remarkable to say the least. Even though Orlando is coming off a 129 dash 110 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday at home, Orlando is still in much better shape than I think a lot of teams around the NBA when you consider the young talent that has been amassed in Orlando and how well they are playing to this point is truly remarkable. But let's look at how Orlando slipped up a bit in this home game. First of all they got outplayed in the fourth quarter losing that battle 37-27. No one really took over in this game period Paolo Banchero had just four points in 22 minutes in what was a struggle game to say the least for the number one overall pick. No one really took over the scoring department for Orlando. Wendell Carter had 15 points off the bench in 19 minutes, Markelle Fultz had 16 points, and Franz Wagner had 15. Orlando shot 50% from the floor and shot 36% from 3 point range. They just had no answer for LeBron James and the rest of the inconsistent Lakers. Orlando has gone 9-1 in its last ten against the spread with the only loss coming on Tuesday period but this is going to be a bit of a challenge going on a back-to-back with travel against albeit, a very struggling Detroit team.
Pistons analysis
It is mainly been a nightmare season for the Detroit Pistons. I think many anticipated to have the excitement of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey playing together this season, but with Cunningham now out for the rest of the season, this is going to be a very long second-half for the Pistons. Detroit dropped its sixth straight game on Monday in a 142-131 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, in which Paul George went off for 32 points and 11 assists in 37 minutes. Detroit got a very balanced scoring effort from nearly everyone across the board. Kevin Knox was the only player to have seen the floor and not score a point. Not only that, but Detroit got double digit scoring from everyone else. Bojan Bogdanovich led the way with 23 points, Isaiah Stewart had 21, and Killian Hayes had 18 points and 10 assists. if Detroit could get some sort of production like that down the road with a healthy Cunningham, Detroit is looking very scary as it pertains to what they can become. But there's no denying that this is going to be a very long, painful struggle for the Pistons the remainder of the way. Even though against the spread this year they are 16-17-3, the Pistons are still in eight dash 2018 and that is going to be looked at for a very long time period and considering the fact that Orlando is still favored despite this being a back-to-back, does not bode well for Detroit at all.
Prediction
The over has been Orlando’s friend over the last four games, going a perfect 4-0 in that stretch, including Orlando going 4-0 against the spread in their last four when they allow 125 points in their previous game. Even though Orlando has struggled recently in Detroit having gone 1-6 in the last seven meetings overall in the Motor City, this bodes well for Orlando in terms of trying to get back on track and keep this consistent round of winning going. Magic 115, Pistons 102
Betting trends
Magic are 10-2 ATS in December
Pistons are 40-22 ATS off a home loss the last 3 seasons.
Pistons are 51-34 ATS after failing to cover in the previous game the last 3 seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Magic:
PG: Markelle Fultz
SG: Franz Wagner
SF: Paolo Banchero
PF: Bol Bol
C: Wendell Carter Jr.
Pistons:
PG: Killian Hayes
SG: Jaden Ivey
SF: Bojan Bogdanovic
PF: Isaiah Stewart
C: Jalen Duren
Injury report
Magic: Jalen Suggs (ankle, out)
Pistons: Cade Cunningham (leg, out), Marvin Bagley (illness, out)
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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.
