Two Top 5 picks and Rookie of the Year candidates will clash Saturday night, as No. 1 overall selection Cade Cunningham and his Detroit Pistons take on the Toronto Raptors and No. 4 selection Scottie Barnes.
Toronto is an 8-point NBA betting favorite in this Eastern Conference clash, as it looks for a second straight win. Detroit is on the second night of a back-to-back and has lost five of six.
So will the home Raps be able to cover the spread on Saturday? Find out in our free picks and predictions for Pistons vs. Raptors on November 13.
Pistons vs Raptors odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The Raptors opened this matchup as 8.5-point favorites and have been bet down slightly to -8. The total hit the board at 201 and the Over has seen the early action, moving the number to 202.
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.
Pistons vs Raptors predictions
- Prediction: Raptors -8 (-110)
- Prediction: Under 202 (-110)
- Best bet: Barnes Over 7.5 Rebounds (+106)
Predictions made on 11/12/2021 at 1:05 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Pistons vs Raptors game info
• Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
• Date: Saturday, November 13, 2021
• Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: BSDET
Pistons vs Raptors betting preview
Injuries
Pistons: Kelly Olynyk PF (Out).
Raptors: Precious Achiuwa PF (Questionable), Khem Birch C (Questionable).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 8-3 in the Raptors' last 11 games as a home favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Raptors.
Pistons vs Raptors picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
Cade Cunningham may have been the No. 1 overall pick in last July’s NBA Draft, but it has been Scottie Barnes who has looked like arguably the NBA’s best rookie through the first few weeks of the NBA season.
Cunningham has battled injuries and is scoring 12.6 points on just 28.4 percent shooting through his first five games. Meanwhile, Barnes has been a big part of this upstart Raptors team. The Florida State product is averaging 16.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists so far this season.
Barnes and the Raptors snapped their three-game losing streak with a solid win against an undermanned but scrappy Philadelphia 76ers team and will look to start a winning streak Saturday against the Pistons.
The Raptors have gotten off to their 7-6 start thanks in part to the quick emergence of Barnes, the breakout of OG Anunoby, and the shooting of Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. But Toronto’s biggest strength is its tenacious defense.
The Raptors rank 11th in defensive rating, and fifth in scoring defense, limiting opponents to just 102.5 points per contest. They also lead the NBA in steals and deflections. They do this thanks to having guys like Anunoby and Barnes. Long, rangy athletes who can switch with anyone on the court.
Now, they face a Pistons team playing its second game in as many nights, with just two wins on the season, and ranking dead last in the NBA in both net rating and scoring.
Yes, Dwane Casey seems to always bring his A-game when facing his former team, and the Raptors have not been a great bet at home this season, but it’s hard to have faith that this Pistons team can cover this number in this spot.
Prediction: Raptors -8 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
The Raptors are a tough team to figure out when it comes to totals, due to a contrasting style that both creates a ton of transition buckets and is extremely deliberate in the halfcourt. Despite their points off turnovers, the Raps rank 29th in the NBA in pace. Additionally, Toronto ranks 23rd in scoring, averaging 104.2 points per game.
The Pistons, on the other hand, might be the worst offense in the NBA. Detroit scores just 94.9 points per game and ranks dead last in offensive rating, effective field goal percentage, and true shooting percentage. On top of that, the Pistons rank a below-average 21st in pace.
And in the Pistons' last five games against teams with winning records, the Under is 4-0-1. This is a low number, but if there's a pair of teams that can stay below it, it's these two.
Prediction: Under 202 (-110)
Best bet
Another area where the Raptors have really excelled this year has been on the glass – where they rank fifth in the NBA in rebounding percentage – and Scottie Barnes has been a big part of that. The rookie is hauling down 8.5 boards per game and has had at least seven rebounds in 10 of his 11 games this season.
Saturday, he faces a Pistons team that ranks 26th in rebounding percentage and collects the second-fewest rebounds per game as a team. Bet on Scottie to keep on cleaning up the glass in this matchup take the Over on his rebounding total in this one.
Pick: Scottie Barnes Over 7.5 Rebounds (+106)
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