The Detroit Pistons (0-1) take a trip down south to face the Houston Rockets (0-1) Friday. Tip-off from Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, is set for 8 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Pistons vs. Rockets odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
2024-25 season series: Tied 1-1
Detroit lost 115-111 to the Chicago Bulls in its season-opener Wednesday, failing to cover as a 2.5-point favorite as the Under (236.5) cashed. G Cade Cunningham and C Isaiah Stewart both put up 20-point double-doubles, but Detroit shot just 29.2% from deep to bury any chance winning. The Pistons showed some fight by forcing 17 turnovers and winning the final quarter 32-21, but could not overcome their 35-19 opening-quarter deficit.
Houston put up a fight in a 125-124 double-overtime loss against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Tueaday’s Opening Night while covering as a 6.5-point underdog with the Over (226) hitting. C Alperen Sengun shined with 39 points, 11 boards, and 7 assists while new Rockets F Kevin Durant put up 23 points and 9 rebounds in his debut with the team. In spite of his solid performance, Durant only put up 2 shots during the final quarter and 2 overtime periods Tuesday.
Pistons at Rockets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:26 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Pistons +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Rockets -250 (bet $250 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Pistons +6.5 (-115) | Rockets -6.5 (-105)Over/Under (O/U): 226.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)Pistons at Rockets key injuries
Pistons
G Jaden Ivey (knee) outG Caris LeVert (knee) probableG Marcus Sasser (hip) probable
Rockets
F Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) outG Fred VanVleet (knee) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Pistons at Rockets picks and predictionsPrediction
Rockets 114, Pistons 104
PASS.
The Rockets are the better team and should have no problem covering here, but they are not worth the risk of betting on as -250 favorites,, so pass and bet on the spread and/or total instead.
ROCKETS -6.5 (-105).
With Ivey out again there still is not a consistent second ball-handler for Detroit. On the other side, Houston has the perimeter defenders to throw elite defensive bodies at Cunningham all night long and force him to give the ball up, so look for Detroit’s offense to look terrible in this matchup. While the Pistons do have the defensive pieces to slow down the Rockets, eventually Houston will be able to string together defensive stops and turns those stops into easy buckets to pull away in this one regardless of what Detroit does in half-court defense.
Cunningham is a great player and this Pistons team is good enough defensively to keep any game close, so there is some risk here.
BET UNDER 226.5 (-115).
The Pistons’ offense struggled Wednesday against a bad Bulls defense, so this Houston squad built to shut down opposing guards will feast here. On the other side, Detroit defends at every level and is a team that prides itself on its defense and hustle, so offense will be no easy thing to come by for Houston either. Look for this game to be a largely defensive matchup in which both teams will struggle to find ways to make the Over hit here.
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