Cooper Albers takes you through his preview, prediction and pick for Monday’s NBA matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons.

Two of the hottest squads in the Eastern Conference kick off the NBA’s December slate, as the Detroit Pistons host the Atlanta Hawks in Motor City on Monday night. 

The Hawks (13–8, 5th East) enters on the second leg of a back-to-back, having won nine of their last 12 games while star guard Trae Young is sidelined with a sprained MCL. They’ll take on the Pistons (16–4, 1st East), who recently tied a franchise record with 13 consecutive wins, which included a 120–112 victory in Atlanta. 

Here’s a look at the Injury Report:

Atlanta Hawks

Out: Kristaps Porzingis (Illness), Jacob Toppin (Shoulder), Trae Young (Knee)

Detroit Pistons

Out: Bobi Klintman (Ankle), Marcus Sasser (Return to Competition Conditioning)

Questionable: Duncan Robinson (Ankle)

Probable: Jalen Duren (Leg), Caris LeVert (Knee)

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. Detroit enters as a 10.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Atlanta is listed as a +340 underdog. The game’s total is set at 233.5 points. 

Hawks vs. Pistons Preview

Atlanta Hawks Preview

Typically, the loss of a superstar point guard halts a team’s ability to score and, in turn, win. That hasn’t been the case in Atlanta. The Hawks haven’t just stayed afloat since Trae Young hit the sidelines at the end of October — they’ve emerged as one of the more dangerous squads in the East. 

Atlanta owns an 11–5 record since Young’s injury, ranking 11th in points per game while actually leading the NBA in assists. The Hawks like to hammer the ball inside but can score from wherever and boast top-ten shooting splits from all around the floor. Catalyzing Atlanta’s offense is Jalen Johnson, who’s on his way to setting new career highs with 22.9 points and 7.3 assists per game, while also adding a team-high 9.8 rebounds a night. 

The Hawks are just as formidable on defense, if not stronger. Anchored by one of the NBA’s most feared defenders in Dyson Daniels, Atlanta ranks sixth in both steals and blocks per game — frequently turning defensive stops into easy buckets on the other end. 

But while the three-point line is no man’s land against the Hawks, opportunities open up when opponents can dump the ball inside. Plus, Atlanta’s shoddy rebounding has permitted far too many second-chance opportunities.

Detroit Pistons Preview

Motor City has kicked it into high gear this season. A team that set an NBA record for consecutive losses just two years ago has since taken a complete U-turn — now fresh off tying a franchise-best winning streak and occupying the top spot in the conference. 

The Pistons feature a top-ten offense that ranks seventh in points per game on sound efficiency. Detroit might not be much of a premier threat — sitting bottom-three in the NBA for both attempts and makes — but it crushes the key and leads the league in average points in the paint. It also doesn’t hurt that the offense stems from star guard Cade Cunningham, who’s posting 28.8 points and 9.4 assists per game — the type of numbers that’ll earn you a signature sneaker with Nike. 

Detroit’s defensive effort is nostalgic, deeply reminiscent of the Bad Boy Pistons days. The squad is physical, aggressive, and tenacious on the glass, swiping the NBA’s fourth-most steals and cracking the top-three in blocks and rebounds. They force a ton — like, a ton — of turnovers, frequently capitalizing on their takeaways with strong transition offense.

The Pistons have locked down the paint, but cracks begin to form as opposing offenses retreat beyond the perimeter. And while their ruthless defense has deterred many from driving down the lane, those brave enough will likely get rewarded with a trip to the charity stripe — as the Pistons are tied for the league lead in fouls per game and surrender the NBA’s second-most free throw attempts per game.

Hawks vs. Pistons Pick, Best Bet

Monday’s contest features an exciting, defense-focused battle between two of the top lockdown squads in the NBA. This type of matchup could very well fall below the 233.5-point total — but Kristaps Porzingis’ sidelining could loom large in determining the outcome. 

Detroit is the fresher team and has a clear advantage on the boards — ranking third in rebounds per game to Atlanta’s 25th, fueled by center Jalen Duren — and in the key, overall. Considering the Hawks will be playing without their primary paint presence, count on the Pistons to feast down low and secure their third straight win in dominant fashion.

Best Bet: Detroit Pistons -10.5 Points (-105)