The Detroit Pistons try to wrap up a six-game homestand with a win when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday afternoon.
Charlotte, fresh off snapping its six-game losing streak, isn’t getting much love from the books, as they’re 10-point road underdogs for this 2 p.m. ET start at Little Caesars Arena.
Our Hornets vs. Pistons prediction and NBA picks think that’s an awful lot of points to give to a team that’s won two of three in this head-to-head.
Hornets vs Pistons prediction
My best bet
Hornets +10 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
Fighting to stay above the play-in fray, the Detroit Pistons beat up on the 76ers 125-112 last time out, putting an end to a two-game losing skid. The win was extra impressive, considering freshly minted All-Star Cade Cunningham missed the contest with an ankle injury.
He had led the Pistons in scoring in nine straight games and in assists in 13 of the last 14 games. Cunningham’s status for Sunday is probable, though it's unlikely trade deadline pickups Dennis Schroeder and Lindy Waters III will be able to play Sunday.
They’ll be taking on a Charlotte Hornets team that, for the first time in a long time, doesn’t have anyone on their injury list.
LaMelo Ball, who missed five games with an ankle injury, came back and delivered in a big way, scoring 24 points and adding 10 assists — none bigger than a feed to Miles Bridges for a corner triple that eventually stood as the game-winner in a 117-116 win over San Antonio.
That snapped Charlotte’s lengthy losing skid and showed just how valuable Ball is to the franchise. The Hornets had topped 110 points just once in the games LaMelo missed. With him, the Hornets are barely passable on offense already, as they average just 107.1 points per game, a Bottom-3 mark in the NBA.
As long as he’s in the lineup, this line looks overcooked. Charlotte took the first two games of this head-to-head this season, with Detroit winning the most recent on Jan. 3, a 98-94 decision.
In fact, Charlotte has covered all three games against the spread as underdogs, with the largest margin of victory in any of the matchups being four points.
This is the first time this season the Pistons have been double-digit favorites this season. While they could end the night with a win, LaMelo & Co. are a good bet in this range.
Hornets vs Pistons same-game parlay
Hornets +10
Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 points
LaMelo Ball Over 7.5 assists
Cunningham has been on the best scoring tear of his young career, hitting the 30-point plateau in six of his last nine. Prior to his injury, he lit up the Cavaliers for 38 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists, but he's coming off an ankle ailment, and couple that with the fact he’s yet to go Over 28.5 points in eight career games against the Hornets, including in all three matchups this year.
Ball, meanwhile, has been quite consistent in putting up assists against the Pistons. He’s topped his 7.5 assist line in two of three head-to-heads with Detroit, missing the other by a single dime. He's dished out 8+ assists in seven of his last 10 against the Pistons.
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Hornets vs Pistons odds
Hornets vs Pistons live odds
Hornets vs Pistons opening odds
- Spread: Charlotte +9.5 | Detroit -9.5
- Moneyline: Charlotte +390 | Detroit -525
- Over/Under: Over 222.5 | Under 222.5
Odds courtesy of bet365.
Hornets vs Pistons spread and Over/Under analysis
- Detroit is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games.
- Charlotte has covered four straight as an underdog.
- The Under has cashed in eight of the last nine meetings.
- The Hornets have alternated the Over/Under result in six straight games.
Hornets vs Pistons trend
The underdogs have covered the spread in each of Charlotte’s last six games. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Pistons.
How to watch Hornets vs Pistons
| Location | Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI |
| Date | Sunday, 2-9-2025 |
| Tip-off | 1:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | FDSN Detroit, FDSN Southeast |
Hornets vs Pistons latest injuries
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