Friday night’s NBA schedule is headlined by a double-header on ESPN. It ends with an Eastern Conference showdown between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The Cavaliers enter with a record of 37-23, while the Pistons top the East at 43-14.
Let’s take a look at my Cavaliers vs. Pistons prediction.
odds for cleveland cavaliers vs detroit pistons
Moneyline: Cavaliers +220 / Pistons -270
Spread: Cavaliers +7 (-114) / Pistons -7 (-106)
Total: more than 225.5 (-108) / less than 225.5 (-112)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons best bet: Pistons -7 (-106)
These two teams could eventually collide in the Eastern Conference semifinals or even finals, but that potential playoff series would likely be nothing like what we see on Friday. Cleveland is missing Donovan Mitchell, who is sidelined with a groin injury. It goes without saying that the Cavaliers are a very different team without Mitchell’s 28.5 points and 5.8 assists on the floor. With Mitchell out and the Pistons in great form, a heavy underdog team from Cleveland could opt to simply punt this game, especially if the visitors fall behind early. After all, they’re just concerned about getting healthy at the right time – for the playoffs (which wasn’t the case last year). Right now they are not. Joining Mitchell on the injury report are James Harden (thumb), Dean Wade (ankle) and Dennis Schroder (ankle). They are all day to day.
The Cavs probably know they’ll have their hands full even if they have some of the aforementioned players at their disposal to do so. The Pistons are at home and bring a record of 9-2 in their last eleven games into this matchup. They are 22-7 at Little Caesars Arena this season and just routed Oklahoma City 124-116 at home on Wednesday. Jalen Duren was only suspended two games for his role in a recent brawl with Charlotte earlier this month, so he’ll be back in action. In three appearances since that battle, these are the all-star center’s stats: 26 points and 13 rebounds; 25 points and 14 rebounds; 29 points and 15 rebounds.
These two teams last faced each other on January 4. Detroit prevailed 114-110, even though the game was in Cleveland, the Pistons were missing Duren and the Cavs had Mitchell. Cleveland is 1-3 against the spread in their last four games and 1-3 ATS in their last four head-to-head meetings. The Pistons are 5-2 ATS in their last seven overall.
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