Detroit Pistons vs Utah Jazz Picks and Predictions December 19th 2024

Improving Pistons Host Jazz, Eye Back-to-Back Wins

The Detroit Pistons aim to secure consecutive wins for just the third time this season as they welcome the struggling Utah Jazz to Little Caesars Arena.

Pistons’ Progress and Cade Cunningham’s Leadership

After enduring the worst season in franchise history (14-68), the Detroit Pistons (7-20) have shown signs of improvement. Coming off a thrilling 125-124 overtime victory against Miami, the Pistons hope to build momentum by earning back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly a month.

Against the Heat, Detroit squandered a 19-point fourth-quarter lead and trailed by eight in overtime, but timely shooting from Tim Hardaway Jr. and a clutch basket by Cade Cunningham sealed the victory.

Cunningham, playing at an All-Star level, continues to lead the way for Detroit. Averaging 23.5 points, 9.7 assists, and 7.5 rebounds this season, he has elevated his game in December, showing a remarkable ability to read defenses and exploit mismatches.

“He’s got a high understanding of what the game needs,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of Cunningham. “He’s far and above his age in recognizing what opponents are trying to take away and finding ways to counter it.”

However, injuries remain a concern for the Pistons. Starters Tobias Harris (thumb) and Jaden Ivey (knee) missed Monday’s game, and key reserve Isaiah Stewart (knee) was unable to play in the second half. Their statuses for Thursday are uncertain, adding pressure on Detroit’s depth to step up.

Jazz Reeling Amid Defensive Struggles

The Utah Jazz (5-20) find themselves in a downward spiral, having lost 12 of their last 14 games. Defense has been a glaring weakness during their current three-game skid, where they allowed 141 points to Sacramento, 134 to Phoenix, and 144 to the Los Angeles Clippers.

“We got our butts kicked,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy admitted after the Clippers loss. “The game was really decided in the first quarter. The message to the team is that we’ll be judged most by how we act when things don’t go our way.”

Utah’s leading scorer, Lauri Markkanen, has struggled to find his rhythm, surpassing 20 points only once in the last seven games. Reigniting Markkanen’s scoring prowess will be critical for the Jazz as they look to snap their losing streak.

Despite their struggles, Hardy expressed confidence that his team will respond with renewed pride against Detroit.

“Thursday’s game doesn’t need much of a pregame speech,” Hardy said. “The guys feel it. They’re competitive and frustrated, and they want to bounce back.”

Key Matchup: Cunningham vs. Jazz Defense

Cade Cunningham’s ability to orchestrate Detroit’s offense will be a significant challenge for Utah’s faltering defense. If Cunningham continues to play with poise and precision, he could exploit the Jazz’s defensive lapses.

For Utah, getting off to a strong start will be critical to avoiding another first-quarter collapse. Limiting turnovers and reestablishing Lauri Markkanen as a scoring threat are keys to staying competitive.

Both teams are searching for stability, but with Detroit’s recent success and home-court advantage, the Pistons have an opportunity to maintain their upward trajectory.

Detroit Pistons vs Utah Jazz December 19th 2024

At 7:00 ET, the Pistons (-192) will host the Jazz (+161) in a non-conference matchup. Utah is currently 14th in the Western Conference with a record of 5-20, while Detroit is 10th in the East with a record of 11-16. The Pistons are favored by 4.5 points, and the over/under line is set at 227.5.

This game will be played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The Pistons are 5th in the Central Division, while the Jazz are 5th in the Northwest. Utah has lost three straight games.

Jazz vs. Pistons Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Utah Jazz at Detroit Pistons
• Where: Detroit at Little Caesars Arena
• Date: Thursday, December 19th
• Betting Odds DET -4.5, UTA +161 | DET -192 O/U 227.5

The Jazz Can Win If…

Utah’s season struggles continued with a 144-107 road loss to the Clippers on Monday, dropping their record to 5-20. The Jazz, who entered the game as +7.5 underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The total score of 251 points exceeded the pre-game O/U line of 221.5 by 29.5 points.

The Clippers set the tone early with a 10-0 run, extending their lead from 7-3 to 17-3. Utah trailed 44-20 after the 1st quarter and 81-47 at halftime. Although the Jazz played more evenly in the 3rd and 4th quarters, they couldn’t overcome the deficit, as the Clippers led 115-80 going into the final period.

In their 144-107 loss to the Clippers, the Jazz shot 45% from the field and hit 13 threes at a 33.3% clip. Jordan Clarkson led the way with 20 points, connecting on 3 threes at 50% efficiency, while Lauri Markkanen added 17 points and 5 rebounds, also hitting 3 threes at 50%.

Collin Sexton contributed 15 points, shooting 70% from the field. Clarkson scored 10 of his points in the 3rd quarter, while Johnny Juzang and John Collins each added 6 points in the final period.

The Jazz struggled defensively against the Clippers, giving up 144 points in a tough loss. They allowed 44 points in the 1st quarter and 37 in the 2nd, with the Clippers shooting 59% from the field.

Utah also gave up 21 three-pointers on 53% shooting. The Clippers went 25/32 from the free-throw line. The Jazz finished with 25 defensive rebounds, 8 steals, and 3 blocks.

• When looking at their past ten road matchups, Utah has an ATS record of 4-6 while averaging 112 per game. The team went 2-8 overall in these games.
• As the betting underdog, the Jazz have an ATS mark of just 3-7 in their last ten games. Utah posted a straight up mark of 2-8 in these matchups.
• Over their last five games, the Jazz have an over/under record of 5-0 and are 1-4 vs. the spread.

The Pistons Can Win If…

The Pistons improved to 11-16 on the season with a 125-124 win over the Heat on Monday. Detroit, who entered the game as +4.5 point underdogs, not only won but also covered the spread. The total score of 249 points went well over the pre-game line of 219.5.

Detroit took control with a 10-0 run, stretching the score from 63-59 to 73-59. They outscored Miami 34-22 in the 3rd quarter, leading 97-81 going into the 4th. However, the Heat made a comeback, winning the final quarter 33-17, but the Pistons held on for the win.

Malik Beasley knocked down 7 threes at a 53.8% clip, finishing with 28 points and 4 assists in the Pistons’ win over the Heat. Detroit hit 20 threes as a team, shooting 50% from beyond the arc and 48.9% overall.

Cade Cunningham recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 18 assists, and 11 rebounds, while Ausar Thompson added 19 points and 9 boards. Tim Hardaway contributed 9 of his 16 points in overtime.

Despite giving up 124 points, the Pistons managed to hold off the Heat on Monday. Their best defensive effort came in the 3rd quarter, where they allowed just 22 points. However, they struggled in the 4th, giving up 33 points. Overall, Detroit held Miami to 45% shooting from the field.

The Pistons did a solid job defending the three, limiting the Heat to 12 made threes on 27% shooting. Detroit also collected 45 defensive rebounds while allowing 9 offensive boards. They added 8 steals and 4 blocks in the game.

• In their last ten games at home, the Pistons have a straight up record of 4-6 while going 5-4-1 vs. the spread. The team averaged 114 points per game in this stretch.
• The last ten games that Detroit was favored, they have an ATS mark of 4-6 while going 6-4 straight up.
• In their last five games, the Pistons have an over/under record of 2-2-1 and are 1-4 vs. the spread.

The Lean

Coming in as the underdogs at +4.5, we have the Jazz as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 227.5, and our model projects the Jazz and Pistons to reach a combined total of 258 points. Our bet is on taking the over.