Detroit Pistons vs Portland Trail Blazers January 6th 2025
The Detroit Pistons (-252) are favored by 6.5 points as they host the Portland Trail Blazers (+209) at Little Caesars Arena. The Pistons (17-18) are currently 9th in the Eastern Conference, while the Blazers (12-22) are 13th in the West. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 ET and the game will be televised on KATU.
Detroit is riding a three-game win streak and the over/under line for tonight’s game is 225.5 points.
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Trail Blazers vs. Pistons Key Information
- Sport: NBA
- Teams: Portland Trail Blazers at Detroit Pistons
- Where: Detroit at Little Caesars Arena
- Date: Monday, January 6th
- Betting Odds DET -6.5, POR +209 | DET -252 O/U 225.5
The Trail Blazers Can Win If…
Portland improved to 12-22 this season with a 105-102 road win over the Bucks on Saturday. The Trail Blazers, who were +11.5 point underdogs, not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.
Portland took control in the 2nd quarter, outscoring Milwaukee 26-20. After falling behind 76-75 heading into the 4th quarter, the Trail Blazers rallied with a 30-26 edge in the final period. The game’s total of 207 points fell well short of the 228.5-point over/under line.
Anfernee Simons hit 5 threes and scored 28 points in the Trail Blazers’ 105-102 win over the Bucks, with 23 of those points coming in the second half, including 12 in the 4th quarter. Deni Avdija contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Shaedon Sharpe added 16 points, 5 of which came in the final period.
Portland connected on 13 threes, shooting 36.1% from deep and 48.2% overall. Avdija and Toumani Camara each scored 7 points in the 1st quarter, with Camara finishing with 15 points in the game.
Despite a shaky start, the Trail Blazers tightened up defensively after the 1st quarter, holding the Bucks to just 20 points in the 2nd. Portland allowed 25 points in the 3rd and 26 in the 4th, giving up 102 points overall on 43% shooting from the field.
The Trail Blazers were solid against the three, limiting Milwaukee to 13 made threes on 31% shooting. They also sent the Bucks to the line just 9 times, where they made 7 free throws. Portland finished with 47 defensive rebounds, allowing 7 offensive boards, while adding 7 steals and 3 blocks.
- Although Portland has a straight up record of 2-8 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 4-6. The team averaged 104 points per game in these games.
- Looking back on the team’s last five games as the underdog, the Trail Blazers have a straight up record of 2-3. Their record vs the spread in these games was 2-3.
- Over their last five games, the Trail Blazers have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 2-3 vs. the spread.
The Pistons Can Win If…
Detroit improved to 17-18 on the season with a 119-105 win over the Timberwolves on Saturday. The Pistons, who were +6.5 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread. The total points for the game hit 224, going over the O/U line of 216.
Detroit went on a 15-0 run, extending their lead from 33-28 to 48-28. They held the Timberwolves to 15 points in the 2nd quarter and took a 96-81 lead into the 4th quarter, where they held off a late push from Minnesota.
Cade Cunningham led the way for the Pistons in their win over the Timberwolves, scoring 40 points and dishing out 9 assists while shooting 51.7% from the field and hitting 4 threes at a 50% clip. Malik Beasley added 23 points, knocking down 6 threes at 42.9%.
As a team, the Pistons connected on 13 threes, shooting 34.2% from beyond the arc, and finished with an overall field goal percentage of 48.4%. Cunningham scored 14 points in the 3rd quarter, while Beasley added 9 of his points in the 2nd period.
Despite a rough 3rd quarter, the Pistons’ defense held the Timberwolves to 105 points, including just 15 in the 2nd quarter, to secure the win. Detroit limited Minnesota to 42% shooting from the field.
The Pistons struggled with the Timberwolves’ three-point shooting, allowing 16 made threes at a 40% clip. Detroit sent Minnesota to the line 26 times, where they hit 21 free throws. The Pistons finished with 12 steals and 2 blocks.
- In their last three home games, Detroit has averaged 117 points per game while allowing 120. The team’s record in this stretch was 2-1 while going 2-1 vs. the spread.
- In their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Pistons have a straight up record of 6-4 and an ATS mark of 3-7.
- In their last five games, the Pistons have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.
The Lean
Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +6.5, the Trail Blazers is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.
Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 225.5, and our model predicts the Trail Blazers and Pistons to score a combined 250 points. We recommend betting on the over.
Pistons to Honor Chauncey Billups, Eye .500 Mark vs. Blazers
The Detroit Pistons are riding high as they prepare to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. With a chance to reach the .500 mark at 10-10, Detroit is enjoying a resurgence after a dismal 14-68 campaign last season.
Pistons on a Hot Streak
Detroit has won three straight games and six of its last seven, including a 119-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Cade Cunningham stole the show with a season-high 40 points and nine assists, countering Anthony Edwards’ career-best 53-point performance for Minnesota.
“I felt comfortable. My jumper felt good. Really, everything,” Cunningham said. “Offensively, we were in a good groove. If the team is flowing like that, I think everybody feels good.”
Even the absence of Jaden Ivey, sidelined with a fractured fibula, hasn’t slowed Detroit. Rookie Ausar Thompson has stepped up in Ivey’s place, contributing 10 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high six steals against Minnesota.
“He got deflections, did a good job defensively, helps us play faster,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of Thompson. “We knew we needed to play faster and let our athletes kind of run, and A.T. did that for us.”
Sixth man Malik Beasley also has been a consistent spark, averaging 16.3 points per game this season, including a 23-point effort on Saturday.
Trail Blazers Finding Momentum
Portland enters the game on a high note after a gritty 105-102 road win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. Anfernee Simons has been leading the charge, scoring 28 points and dishing eight assists against Milwaukee, marking his third consecutive game as the team’s top scorer.
“When you play well, you expect to win,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “We played our behinds off and deserved to win.”
Portland’s rebounding, a sore spot for much of the season, was a key to their success against Milwaukee, as they outrebounded the Bucks 55-43.
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“I thought our rebounding was elite,” Billups said. “We did a really, really good job on the glass, which gives you an opportunity to get out there and try to get shots up.”
Celebrating Chauncey Billups
The game will also serve as a celebration of Chauncey Billups, the 2004 NBA Finals MVP who guided the Pistons to their last championship. Detroit will honor Billups with a bobblehead giveaway and a video montage recognizing his career and his induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame last year.
“I know the atmosphere will be a lot of fun,” Billups said. “They’ve got some things planned for me since I’m going back there for the first time since the Hall of Fame (induction).”
What’s at Stake
Detroit wraps up a four-game homestand with this matchup and looks to sustain its upward momentum. Meanwhile, Portland is in the middle of a five-game road trip and aims to build on its big win against the Bucks.
With Cunningham playing at an elite level and the Pistons clicking as a team, they’ll look to honor Billups’ legacy with a victory. On the other side, Billups and his Trail Blazers will aim to spoil the night and continue their climb toward consistency.