76ers vs Pistons Picks and Predictions: Don't Fix What Ain't Broke

The Detroit Pistons gave the Brooklyn Nets a run for their money at Barclays Center the other night, and the team will now look to do the same at home against the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Will Detroit keep this game tight against Philadelphia? Continue reading our 76ers vs. Pistons NBA picks and predictions to find out. 

76ers vs Pistons odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

This game opened with the Sixers laying 9.5 points on the road, and it actually got to a point where the Pistons were getting 11. Now, it’s back down to 9.5 across most books, with one that still has it at 10. Meanwhile, the total opened at 223.5 and is down to 223 in some places. 

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

76ers vs Pistons predictions

• Prediction: Pistons +10 (-110)
• Prediction: Over 223.5 (-105)
• Best bet: Cunningham Over 20.5 points (-104)

Predictions made on 3/31/2022 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

76ers vs Pistons game info

• Location: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
• Date: Thursday, March 31, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: NBCS-Philadelphia, Bally Sports Detroit Extra

76ers vs Pistons betting preview

Key injuries

76ers: Jaden Springer G (Out).
Pistons: Cory Joseph G (Questionable), Jerami Grant F (Out), Hamidou Diallo G (Out), Chris Smith F (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Pistons are 9-0 against the spread in their last nine games against teams with winning records. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Pistons.

76ers vs Pistons picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Spread analysis

The Pistons aren’t winning many games outright but you’d have a hard time finding a team that has been kinder to bettors in the second half of the year.

Not only is Detroit 9-0 against the spread in its last nine games against teams with winning records, but the Pistons are also 7-1 ATS in their last eight games as home underdogs. Detroit is also 16-5 ATS in its last 21 games as an underdog.

Dwane Casey’s group is clearly another good veteran or two away from really taking a leap into playoff contention in the coming years, but the talent is there for this team to compete with anybody on any given night. The Pistons’ 7-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets the other night should be proof of that, especially with that game being played at the Barclays Center.

Cade Cunningham is a big part of the reason that Detroit is playing solid basketball right now, and is coming off of a 34-point, six-assist night in the loss to Brooklyn. Look for him to have yet another big game against this Philadelphia team, as his blend of size and ability to make plays with the ball in his hands is going to be tough for the Sixers to match up with. 

Without Grant in the lineup, Detroit just needs somebody to rise up and be Cunningham’s running mate in this game. Perhaps it will be Saddiq Bey, who is averaging 16.3 points per game and is a much better shooter than his 34.6% from deep indicates. Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia’s best wing defender, can only cover one of Cunningham and Bey, so whoever doesn’t see the lanky forward on them should have a good chance to get going.

Defensively, don’t be surprised if the Pistons put Cunningham on James Harden. Cunningham is an advanced defender and would look forward to a matchup like this one. It is, however, important that Isaiah Stewart doesn’t get into foul trouble in his battle with Joel Embiid.

The Pistons aren’t going to completely shut the MVP candidate down, but Stewart is a big, physical player. He’ll definitely try to rough Embiid up a bit, and that could tire the Sixers star out down the stretch. 

Of course, this is a game that Philadelphia really should win. But winning by double digits on the road isn’t easy in this league. 

Prediction: Pistons +10 (-110 at FanDuel)

Over/Under analysis

The Over has hit in four of Philly's last five games, despite having some rather high numbers set on their contests. This Philadelphia team hasn’t been playing well on the defensive end recently, as it has allowed at least 114 points in three of its last four games.

Meanwhile, Detroit is coming off a meeting with Brooklyn in which the two teams combined to score 253 points. That shows you that the Pistons have what it takes to get involved in a shootout, even if they might play low-scoring games somewhat often. 

The reality is that this Pistons team is just 24th in the NBA in defensive rating, so the Sixers are going to get a ton of good looks. It’ll then be up to Detroit to try and keep up, and we think the team is capable of doing so — at least to an extent. 

The Over also happens to be 18-7-1 in the last 26 games that Philadelphia has played against teams with losing records. It’s also 17-6-3 in the last 26 games in which the Sixers have been road favorites. 

Prediction: Ove 225.5 (-105 at DraftKings)

Best bet

Cunningham had 18 points when he faced the Sixers back on November 4, but that was only his third game of the season. Cunningham was just 4-for-17 from the field and just 1 of 7 from deep in that game, and he hadn’t yet figured out how to impact games at that point.

Well, the rookie has certainly figured it out now, and he has actually scored more than 20 points in nine of his last 15 games. 

Against the Sixers, the Pistons will need Cunningham to be aggressive as a scorer. The 20-year-old will definitely look to get his teammates involved, but that doesn’t mean he can’t get it going for himself.

The Sixers don’t have many players that have what it takes to stay in front of him while also having the strength to bump him off his spots. That’s why we’re expecting him to go out and be in attack mode like he was in his 34-point performance against the Nets. 

Pick: Cade Cunningham Over 20.5 (-104)

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