Detroit Pistons (24-7) vs. LA Clippers (9-21)
The 2025-26 NBA season goes on Sunday, December 28, with the Detroit Pistons squaring off against the LA Clippers in the cross-conference clash at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA, so we have prepared the Pistons vs. Clippers prediction to get you covered.
The Pistons meet the Clippers for the first time this season. They split a two-game set last season, with each team grabbing a win on the home court. The Clippers have won 11 of their previous 12 encounters with the Pistons, but LA has covered the spread just twice in its last 10 dates with Detroit.
Read more about this Pistons vs. Clippers prediction, and check out all our NBA picks for Sunday’s card. The tip-off at Intuit Dome is set at 9:00 PM ET.
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Terms & Conditions The Pistons are coming off a tough loss
The Detroit Pistons (24-7; 17-14 ATS; 16-15 O/U) put an end to their three-game winning streak last Friday. After beating the Charlotte Hornets 112-86, the Portland Trail Blazers 110-102, and the Sacramento Kings 136-127, the Pistons suffered a 131-129 defeat at the Utah Jazz.
Detroit was a 9.5-point fave at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The Pistons went 18-for-37 from downtown but missed eight of their 23 shots from the foul line and gave up 44 points in the third quarter. Cade Cunningham led the way for Detroit with 29 points and 17 assists.
Cunningham has dished 10 or more assists in five of his last eight games. He tallies 26.5 points and 9.6 assists per game, while Jalen Duren posts 18.5 points and 11.1 rebounds a night. Duren has recorded four double-doubles in his last five games.
The Pistons are topping the Eastern Conference, two and a half games ahead of the New York Knicks. Detroit tallies 117.8 points per 100 possessions (8th in the NBA) and surrenders 111.3 points in return (2nd).
The Clippers eye their fourth straight win
The Los Angeles Clippers (9-21; 11-19 ATS; 15-15 O/U) have struggled a lot this season, but they’ve managed to win their last three games, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 103-88, the Houston Rockets 128-108, and the Portland Trail Blazers 119-103.
Last Friday, the Clippers overcame a 12-point deficit at Moda Center in Portland. They allowed just 41 points in the second half. The Clippers went 20-for-40 from beyond the arc and 29-for-31 from the foul line.
James Harden dropped 34 points on Portland, while Brook Lopez scored 31 points, including a career-high nine 3-pointers. Lopez replaced Ivica Zubac (15.6 PPG, 11.1 RPG) in the starting lineup, and Zubac will miss a few weeks with an ankle injury.
Harden leads the way for LA with 26.3 points and 8.0 assists per game. The Clippers are 13th in the Western Conference, two and a half games behind the No. 10 seed. They score 114.7 points per 100 possessions (18th in the NBA) and allow 118.6 points in return (25th).
Pistons vs. Clippers Pick Spread Pick for Pistons vs. Clippers Detroit Pistons (4 units)
During their three-game winning streak, the Clippers have made 46.7% of their shots from deep. The Clippers need another strong shooting night if they want to beat the Pistons, who are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.
Detroit is eighth in the league in opposing 3-point percentage (35.0%). The Pistons didn’t play well against Utah last Tuesday, allowing 18 triples to the Jazz, so I expect Detroit to bounce back and put on a strong defensive performance at Intuit Dome.
Without Ivica Zubac, the Clippers might struggle to contain the Pistons on the glass. Detroit is second in the league in offensive rebound percentage (32.4%). Hereof, I’m going with the Pistons, but this should be a tight battle for all 48 minutes.
Over/Under Pick for Pistons vs. Clippers
Betting on the under looks like a way to go in this matchup. The Clippers’ defense has been surprisingly good over the last three games. Both Kris Dunn and Kawhi Leonard will be all over Cade Cunningham, and the Clippers just need to somehow keep the Pistons off the offensive glass.
On the other side, the Pistons must be fired up to prove their worth after yielding 131 points against Utah. Last Tuesday, Detroit allowed 127 points at Sacramento, so the Pistons have to tighten things up. Their defense has been a big factor in the team’s success this season.
The Clippers play at the third-slowest pace in the NBA (96.5 possessions per 48 minutes), and the under has hit in eight of their last 12 games overall. Four of the Pistons’ last six contests have gone under, too.
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