The Detroit Pistons host the Charlotte Hornets for an Eastern Conference tilt on Friday. Charlotte aims to stop a six-game losing skid, and the Hornets are 28-28 overall this season. Charlotte is also 14-16 in road games, and Detroit is playing its second home game in as many days. The Hornets list Gordon Hayward (ankle), Cody Martin (ankle) and Jalen McDaniels (ankle) as out, while the Pistons' injury report consists of Cade Cunningham (questionable; hip) and Marvin Bagley III (out; trade pending).
Caesars Sportsbook lists Charlotte as a 6.5-point road favorite, and tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the Over-Under, is 226.5 in the latest Hornets vs. Pistons odds. Before you make any NBA predictions with the Hornets vs. Pistons match-up, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 17 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 65-36 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,400. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Hornets vs. Pistons, and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Pistons vs. Hornets:
- Hornets vs. Pistons spread: Hornets -6.5
- Hornets vs. Pistons over-under: 226.5 points
- Hornets vs. Pistons money line: Hornets -300, Pistons +240
- CHA: The Hornets are 16-14 against the spread in road games
- DET: The Pistons are 5-4 against the spread with no rest
Why the Hornets can cover
Charlotte's dynamic offense provides an impressive baseline of performance, but the Hornets also project to benefit from Detroit's weaknesses. The Pistons are No. 29 in the NBA in offensive efficiency, with bottom-three marks in field goal percentage, three-point percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio. Detroit is also in the bottom five in assists per game, and no team has a worse rebounding percentage than the Pistons. Charlotte is in the top 10 of the NBA in offensive efficiency, scoring more than 1.11 points per possession.
The Hornets create 2.05 assists for every turnover, No. 2 in the NBA, and Charlotte is in the top five in assists per game and turnover rate. The Hornets also put pressure on the opposition from three-point range, making 13.8 three-points per game and connecting on 36 percent of attempts. Charlotte's athleticism and speed are vital, leading to 16.2 fast break points per game, and the Hornets have the rest advantage given Detroit's back-to-back.
Why the Pistons can cover
Detroit should benefit from Charlotte's defensive shortcomings in this matchup. The Hornets rank No. 24 in the NBA in defensive efficiency. Charlotte is also in the bottom five of the league in second-chance points allowed, fast-break points allowed, 2-point percentage allowed, 3-pointers allowed per game and assists allowed. Detroit is in the top 10 of the NBA in free-throw creation, producing nearly 22 attempts per game, and the Pistons are averaging 14 second-chance points per game, a top-10 figure.
On defense, the Pistons are holding opponents to less than 13 second-chance points per game, and Detroit is adept at creating havoc on defense. The Pistons are in the top 10 of the NBA in steals, averaging nearly eight per game, and No. 6 in the league in turnovers, forcing more than 15 per contest. Detroit is also above-average in preventing transition opportunities, allowing fewer than 12 fast-break points per game.
How to make Pistons vs. Hornets picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting 222 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits almost 60 percent of the time. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Hornets vs. Pistons? And which side of the spread hits almost 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
