While the Detroit Pistons' winning streak may no longer be alive, they head to the City of Angels to take on the Los Angeles Clippers with all the momentum on their side, especially with Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell out.
Given the way J.B. Bickerstaff’s team has elevated its play down the stretch, and Los Angeles being down two of its best players, I’m expecting Detroit to keep on humming in my Pistons vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, March 5.
Pistons vs Clippers prediction
My best bet
Pistons -5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
It wasn’t long ago that this matchup could have had a major impact on the NBA Most Improved Player odds race. Cade Cunningham and Norman Powell had been jockeying for position atop the oddsboard for much of the season, but that’s no longer the case.
Thanks to the Pistons taking their game up a notch while winning 10 of their last 11 games, and Powell dealing with a hamstring injury, the battle for the award appears to be over. Cunningham can put an exclamation mark on that tonight with the Detroit Pistons looking poised to beat up on the Los Angeles Clippers without Powell and Kawhi Leonard.
J.B. Bickerstaff’s squad has been one of the best bets in the NBA as of late with a 12-3 record ATS since January 31, and that includes covering against the Clippers as a 3-point favorite with a 106-97 win a week ago.
The Clippers were also down Powell in that game and struggled to score against a Pistons defense that sits ninth in defensive rating (112.3) while allowing the third-fewest 2-pointers per game (26.7) and the sixth-fewest field goal attempts (87.6).
A low volume of shots won’t help an L.A. team that’s down two of its three top scorers, especially when the Clippers are already just 22nd in PPG (110.7) and 21st in offensive rating (112.4). Powell is also this team’s biggest 3-point shooting threat, and Ty Lue’s team is only 27th in made 3-pointers per game (12.1).
Without much effectiveness on offense, the Clippers could fall behind early with how well Cunningham has Detroit playing. Led by the former No. 1 pick, Detroit is 11th in PPG (114.7) and field goal percentage (47.5%).
The Pistons have only been getting better too. After averaging 111.6 PPG in January, the team is scoring 123.8 PPG since the beginning of February while allowing just 111.8 PPG.
That hot streak won’t last forever, but is a team down it’s most efficient offensive player and it’s face of the franchise really going to be the one to put an end to Detroit’s glow up?
Pistons vs Clippers same-game parlay
Pistons -5
Cade Cunningham Over 35.5 points + assists
James Harden Over 5.5 turnovers
The way Cunningham has elevated this season has given the Pistons true hope for the first time since Rip Hamilton was dawning the mask. He’s one of just two players in the league scoring 25+ PPG and dishing out 9+ APG, plus he had 32 points and seven assists the last time Detroit played L.A.
While Detroit’s star thrived in his last matchup against the Clippers, James Harden looked out of place on the court. The 35-year-old didn’t shoot well at all — 5-for-22 from the field, 3-for-11 from deep — and was a turnover machine.
He gave the ball away seven times in that matchup, and could be in trouble with turnovers again against Detroit. The Pistons force the ninth-most turnovers per game in the NBA (15.2) and Harden is averaging the second-most turnovers per game in the NBA (4.5).
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Pistons vs Clippers odds
Pistons vs Clippers live odds
Pistons vs Clippers opening odds
- Spread: Detroit -3.5 | Los Angeles +3.5
- Moneyline: Detroit -162 | Los Angeles +143
- Over/Under: Over 219.5 | Under 219.5
Odds courtesy of bet365
Pistons vs Clippers spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Pistons opened as just a 1.5-point road favorite but have seen the line shift even more heavily in their favor to between -5 and -5.5.
- Detroit has been one of the best teams in the NBA ATS at 35-25-2, but Los Angeles isn’t far behind at 32-29.
- The Over/Under opened at 219.5 and has seen minimal movement with most books sitting between 219.5 and 220.
- Neither the Pistons or Clippers have been a consistent Over bet with Detroit being 31-30-1 and Los Angeles just 26-33-2.
Pistons vs Clippers trend
The Pistons have hit the moneyline in 26 of their last 38 games (+22.45 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Clippers.
How to watch Pistons vs Clippers
| Location | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA |
| Date | Wednesday, 3-5-2025 |
| Tip-off | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | FDSN |
Pistons vs Clippers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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