The Detroit Pistons will look to build on their four-game winning streak as they visit the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Wednesday night.
Detroit has been playing well and should have a significant edge against a Brooklyn team missing their two best scorers.
Read on for my full Pistons vs. Nets predictions and see what other bets I’m placing in this game tonight in my free NBA picks for Wednesday, January 8.
Pistons vs Nets prediction
My best bet
Pistons -8.5 (-115 at bet365)
My analysis
While the Detroit Pistons were something of a joke last season, they are now pushing for a playoff spot. Their recent winning streak has put them at .500 and in the thick of the race not only for the play-in tournament, but potentially even for a direct spot in the playoffs as they sit just a half-game out of the No. 6 seed.
Detroit has simply been playing solid basketball, ranking around average in offensive and defensive rating as well as in pace stats. The Pistons are strong on the boards, ranking fourth in rebound rate. They have a wealth of young talent led by Cade Cunningham (24.4 ppg), though they are currently without Jaden Ivey (17.6 ppg), who recently underwent surgery for a broken fibula.
But as significant as that loss may be for Detroit, it’s nothing compared to what the Brooklyn Nets are currently going through. Brooklyn will once again be without its top two scorers tonight, with Cam Thomas (24.7 ppg) and Cameron Johnson (19.5 ppg) both out with injuries. D’Angelo Russell will miss more time after injuring his shin on Saturday. Even defensive stalwart Ben Simmons is questionable after hurting his calf over the weekend.
That’s bad news for a Brooklyn team that has been regularly suffering heavy defeats in recent weeks. The Nets are just 2-7 over their last nine games, with six of those losses coming by nine or more points. That includes each of their last four home games, with Brooklyn failing to cover in all of those contests.
Detroit is surging, having won seven of its last eight. Those wins haven’t all been blowouts by any stretch, but they have covered in five of the seven wins in that span, as the team continues to outperform the mild expectations put on it before the season began.
The Nets have been struggling to stay in games even with a healthier lineup, and now they lack both the scoring punch or the defensive cohesion necessary to deal with a young, hungry Detroit team that is playing its best basketball of the year. Even with a big spread on the road, I still like the Pistons to cover tonight.
Pistons vs Nets same-game parlay
Pistons -8.5
Over 212.5
Cade Cunningham 25+ points
Along with taking the Pistons to cover tonight, I’m also betting on the Over. While the first game between these two teams was very low scoring, both squads tend to go well Over tonight’s posted total, and Detroit has been playing to higher totals in many of its recent games. It’s also interesting to note that nine of the last 10 meetings between the Nets and Pistons have hit the Over.
A bet on a player to hit their scoring prop is always nice to mix in with the Over, and in this case, I’m taking Cade Cunningham to score at least 25 points. Cunningham has been on fire recently, scoring at least 32 points in each of his last two games, and he should find success against a Nets team that is among the worst defensive units in the league.
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Pistons vs Nets odds
Pistons vs Nets live odds
Pistons vs Nets opening odds
- Spread: Detroit -7.5 | Brooklyn +7.5
- Moneyline: Detroit -290 | Brooklyn +244
- Over/Under: Over 214.5 | Under 214.5
Odds courtesy of bet365
Pistons vs Nets spread and Over/Under analysis
- Both teams are slightly above water against the spread this season, with Brooklyn posting a 19-16-1 ATS record and Detroit playing to an 18-17-1 ATS mark.
- The Pistons are 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings with the Nets.
- The Over is 20-16 in Detroit’s games this season, and is an even 18-18 in Brooklyn’s games.
- The Nets are playing to an average total of 221 ppg, while the Pistons are averaging a total of 225.8 ppg.
Pistons vs Nets trend
Brooklyn is 1-3 ATS in its last four games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Nets.
How to watch Pistons vs Nets
| Location: | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY |
| Date: | Wednesday, 1-8-2025 |
| Tip-off: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FDSN Detroit, YES |
Pistons vs Nets latest injuries
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