Hornets vs Pistons Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: The Lesser of Two Evils

It’s not a misprint – the Detroit Pistons are in the unfamiliar position of NBA odds favorites as they welcome the Charlotte Hornets to Little Caesars Arena tonight.

That’s the same 10-win Pistons who are coming off a 142-124 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, despite 33 points and 10 assists from Cade Cunningham and have picked up just five victories from their 31 home games this season.

Things are only marginally rosier for the 16-48 Hornets, who snapped a six-game losing streak with a 110-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at the weekend but have dropped four straight on the road.

We take a closer look at this Eastern Conference basement battle with our free NBA picks for Hornets vs Pistons on Monday, March 11. 

Hornets vs Pistons odds

Hornets vs Pistons predictions

As bad as the Charlotte Hornets record looks this year, the franchise has made some savvy moves to usher in a new era centered around Brandon Miller (and LaMelo Ball) – and the final weeks of the season are at least meaningful in evaluating the rest of the roster.

There were some encouraging signs in Saturday’s win over the Nets, with Miller and Miles Bridges combining for 47 points and Nick Richards serving up a double-double, and I see that being a launchpad for another strong outing here.

The Hornets and Detroit Pistons both have long roads ahead, but I feel better about the visitors finding a decent finishing kick this season, especially with Miller pushed into a bigger role after Charlotte traded Terry Rozier and P.J. Washington before the deadline. 

While Detroit is allowing 121 ppg, Charlotte has tightened up defensively, holding Brooklyn to 99 points last time out and limiting the Orlando Magic to 101 points last Tuesday. Another steady effort at that end of the floor would put the visitors in position to snatch a victory here.

There’s no world in which I’d lay points with this beleaguered Pistons team, so taking the underdog Hornets to cover the spread feels like the smart play.

My best bet: Hornets +4.5 (-110 at FanDuel)

Hornets vs Pistons same-game parlay

Hornets +4.5

Nick Richards Over 8.5 rebounds

Cade Cunningham Over 23.5 points

+483 at FanDuel

Richards has carved out a useful role for himself in Charlotte, with at least 30 minutes in three of his last four games – and he makes the most of his time on the floor, especially as a rebounder.

He grabbed 11 rebounds against the Nets at the weekend, on the heels of a 13-board effort against the Washington Wizards on Friday. Richards’ matchup with Jalen Duren will be one of the key battlegrounds tonight and I’m picking the Over on his rebounds tally.

While the Hornets feel like a solid ATS pick, I still see Cade Cunningham putting up an eye-popping stat line. He was one rebound shy of a triple-double against the Mavs at the weekend, and he’s shot 11-for-23 from 3-point range in his last three games.

Cade has gone past the 30-point mark in two straight outings, and I see him getting close to that milestone again tonight.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Hornets vs Pistons spread and Over/Under analysis

This is anything but a marquee matchup on the Monday night slate, and the recent trends for both teams make for rough reading.

With the Pistons dropping eight of their last 10 games, it’s hard to make the case for the hosts as 4.5-point favorites, especially after their defense was shredded by Luka Doncic and the Mavs at the weekend. Dallas scored at least 34 points in all four quarters.

As I’ve flagged above, I prefer to put my faith in the Hornets to build off a home win over the Nets and lean on their wing duo of Miller and Bridges.

Both teams have been a magnet for the Under lately – it’s 8-2 in Charlotte’s last 10 contests – and that’s dragged the line down to a reasonable 217.5.

Though the Under is 7-3 in Detroit’s past 10 games, it’s worth noting that the Over has hit in the hosts’ last three outings, and we could be in for a high-scoring clash here with both teams suited to an up-tempo style.

Hornets vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Over on the first-half total has been a winner in 26 of the Pistons’ last 41 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Pistons.

Hornets vs Pistons game info

Hornets vs Pistons latest injuries

Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Pages related to this topic