Detroit Pistons vs Los Angeles Clippers Picks and Predictions – December 28
The Detroit Pistons travel west to face the Los Angeles Clippers at the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, with tipoff set for 10:30 PM ET on Sunday, December 28. Oddsmakers have installed the Pistons as surprising -3.5 road favorites, with the total sitting at 225. For a matchup between two struggling squads, this line demands closer inspection.
Detroit enters with a 7-24 record but has recently shown signs of life. The Clippers (10-21), meanwhile, continue to underperform and have failed to find any real rhythm even at home. With both teams bottom-tier in the standings, this game may not attract casual fans — but from a betting angle, there’s value to uncover.
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Detroit Pistons vs Los Angeles Clippers Odds
Below are the current betting odds for Pistons vs Clippers. As always, monitor the latest NBA odds for real-time movement.
TeamMoneylineSpreadTotalDetroit Pistons-155-3.5 (-110)O 225 (-111)Los Angeles Clippers+131+3.5 (-113)U 225 (-111)
Detroit Pistons Betting Form
The Pistons are still deep in rebuild mode, but they’ve been quietly more competitive in recent games. They’ve covered in four of their last six and have looked more cohesive with Cade Cunningham fully healthy. The offense is still limited — bottom five in efficiency — but they’ve cut down on turnovers and have gotten improved bench minutes from Jaden Ivey and Isaiah Livers.
On the defensive end, Detroit isn’t elite by any means, but they’ve been forcing more midrange shots and cleaning the defensive glass better than earlier in the season. They rank 8th in opponent second-chance points over the last two weeks — not bad for a young frontcourt still learning on the fly.
That said, this is still a 7-win team for a reason. They struggle to shoot from deep, lack consistent scoring options, and go through scoring droughts often. But in a matchup like this — against an underwhelming Clippers squad — they deserve to be slight favorites. Be sure to check the Detroit Pistons injury report to confirm Cunningham, Bogdanović, and Duren are all cleared.
Get a wider view of the team on the Detroit Pistons stats and results page.
Los Angeles Clippers Betting Form
The Clippers were expected to be a play-in contender, but the season has unraveled fast. They’re 10-21 overall and just 3-7 in their last 10, both SU and ATS. Despite having a veteran core, the chemistry is off, and the offense lacks direction. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George continue to battle availability issues, and the backcourt rotation remains unstable.
Defensively, the Clippers are below average — ranked 22nd in defensive rating — and have struggled to contain drives, especially off the pick-and-roll. Opponents are shooting over 48% from the field against them, and that number climbs at home, where their defense seems to dip further.
The one possible advantage here is late-game scoring. If Kawhi or PG play full minutes and keep it close, they can create in isolation better than any Pistons player. But that’s assuming they’re healthy and engaged — which hasn’t been a reliable bet all season.
Make sure to check the Los Angeles Clippers injury report before betting either side. Line value could swing sharply if either star is ruled out.
Check trends and performance at the Los Angeles Clippers schedule and stats.
Detroit Pistons vs Los Angeles Clippers Matchup Breakdown
From a matchup perspective, this game leans on discipline versus talent. Detroit plays harder, shares the ball better, and seems more committed to development and effort. The Clippers, on the other hand, have more raw talent but less cohesion — especially with questionable rotations and defensive lapses.
Key matchup angles:
Rebounding edge: Pistons rank 9th in total rebounding rate; Clippers are 25th.
Pace control: Both teams play at a slower pace, favoring halfcourt sets.
Turnovers: Detroit has tightened up; Clippers still rank in the bottom 10 in turnover %.
Shot profile: Pistons allow fewer rim attempts; Clippers struggle to finish at the rim.
The Clippers do have some wing size and strength that could bother Detroit’s guards, but if Cunningham controls the tempo, Detroit has the tools to win a close, grind-it-out game. Expect a low-possession battle unless transition scoring unexpectedly spikes.
If you’re still developing your betting strategy, this NBA betting guide can help you spot inefficiencies in games like this. Also worth browsing the sports betting strategy guide for edge-finding in pick’em-like spreads.
Detroit Pistons vs Los Angeles Clippers Predictions and Best Bets
This spread is telling. It’s rare to see Detroit as a road favorite, especially against a team with All-Star talent like the Clippers. But current form and health matter more than names, and Detroit has looked like the more functional unit over the last few weeks.
Assuming full availability, Detroit has the edge in effort, rebounding, and execution. If the Clippers’ stars are limited — or even play but float through minutes — Detroit is live for a wire-to-wire win. I’d only consider the Clippers if both Leonard and George are cleared and fully active.
Total-wise, 225 feels a bit high for two slow-paced teams with inconsistent shooting. The only thing pushing this number upward is the potential for late-game free throws and shot-making from veterans.
Secondary angles include Pistons moneyline if you don’t want the spread juice, or Clippers team total Under if both stars are managed.
Best Bet: Pistons -3.5 (-110).
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