The Detroit Pistons will aim to stop the NBA's longest losing streak on Wednesday night. Detroit has lost 14 straight games, falling to 2-15 on the season, and the Pistons will host the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles is 10-8 overall and 3-6 on the road this season, and the Lakers are also looking to bounce back from a blowout loss on Monday. LeBron James (calf) is listed as questionable for Los Angeles, with Rui Hachimura (nasal), Jarred Vanderbilt (heel), and Gabe Vincent (knee) ruled out. Bojan Bogdanovic (calf), Monte Morris (quad), and Joe Harris (shoulder) are out for Detroit.
For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Lakers as 7.5-point favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET from Little Caesars Arena. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 229.5 in the latest Lakers vs. Pistons odds. Before making any Pistons vs. Lakers picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 6 of the 2023-24 NBA season on an 86-50 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Pistons and locked in its NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Pistons vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Pistons spread: Lakers -7.5
- Lakers vs. Pistons over/under: 229.5 points
- Lakers vs. Pistons money line: Lakers -321, Pistons +254
- Los Angeles: The Lakers are 7-11 against the spread this season
- Detroit: The Pistons are 7-10 against the spread this season
- Lakers vs. Pistons picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Lakers can cover
The Lakers enter with the superior offense in this matchup. Los Angeles is one of the most efficient shooting teams in the NBA, making 49.1% of field goal attempts and 57% of 2-point attempts. The Lakers are also in the top eight of the league in free throw attempts (24.5 per game), points in the paint (55.7 per game) and fast break points (15.5 per game). Los Angeles is also facing a Detroit offense that is in the bottom five of the league in offensive efficiency, producing only 108.8 points per 100 possessions.
The Pistons are also making only 9.9 3-pointers per game and making 34.2% of 3-point attempts, and Detroit commits the second-most turnovers (17.2 per game) in the NBA. On the other end, Los Angeles leads the NBA in free throw prevention, giving up only 18.4 attempts per game on defense. The Lakers are also in the top eight of the league in opponent field goal percentage (45.6%) and blocked shots (6.0 per game) this season. See which team to pick here.
Why the Pistons can cover
Detroit is in desperate need of a streak-stopping victory, and the Pistons have a standout player in Cade Cunningham. He is averaging 28.0 points per game in the last three contests, improving his season-long averages to 22.2 points and 7.1 assists per game. Cunningham leads an offense that has top-10 marks in offensive rebounding, assists, free throw accuracy, and points in the paint. Los Angeles has struggled on the road, including a -10.7 net rating, and the Lakers have allowed the most second-chance points (18.1 per game) in the league this year.
Defensively, Detroit has been stingy in key categories, including above-average marks in 2-point percentage allowed, defensive rebound rate, and second-chance points allowed. The Pistons also rank in the top five of the NBA in 3-pointers allowed (10.8 per game) and blocked shots (6.1 per game). At the same time, L.A. has floundered offensively, scoring fewer than 1.11 points per possession and making only 33.8% of 3-point attempts. The Lakers are also strongly below-average in free throw accuracy (76.2%) and turnover avoidance (15.2 giveaways per contest). See which team to pick here.
How to make Pistons vs. Lakers picks
The model has simulated Lakers vs. Pistons 10,000 times and is leaning Under the total, projecting 227 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.
Who wins Lakers vs. Pistons, and which side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see the picks, all from the model that is on an 86-50 roll on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
