Detroit Pistons vs Golden State Warriors Picks and Predictions January 9th 2025

Detroit Pistons vs Golden State Warriors January 9th 2025

At 7:00 ET, the Golden State Warriors (18-18) will travel to take on the Detroit Pistons (19-18) in a non-conference matchup. The Pistons are currently favored by 3 points, and the over/under line is set at 219.

Golden State is 9th in the Western Conference, while Detroit is 8th in the Eastern Conference. The Warriors have lost two straight games, while the Pistons have won five in a row.

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Warriors vs. Pistons Key Information

After a 114-98 loss to the Heat on Tuesday, the Warriors are now 18-18 for the season. Golden State, who were -9 point favorites at home, not only lost but failed to cover the spread. The total score of 212 points fell short of the 216.5-point over/under line.

Miami’s 10-0 run early on helped them take control, and they extended their lead by outscoring the Warriors 32-25 in the 2nd quarter. Although Golden State fought back in the 3rd, winning it 30-23, the Heat pulled away in the 4th, outscoring the Warriors 30-20.

In the Warriors’ 114-98 loss to the Heat, Stephen Curry knocked down 8 threes at a 47.1% clip, finishing with 31 points and 7 rebounds. Trayce Jackson-Davis added 19 points and 7 boards, shooting 75% from the field.

As a team, Golden State hit just 28% from deep, making 14 threes, and shot 40.8% overall. Curry scored 12 points in the 2nd quarter and added 8 more in both the 1st and 4th quarters.

Defensively, the Warriors gave up 114 points to the Heat, allowing 29 points in the 1st quarter and 32 in the 2nd. They tightened up in the 3rd, holding Miami to 23 points, but the Heat scored 30 in the 4th.

Golden State allowed Miami to shoot 47% from the field, including 40% from three-point range, with the Heat making 16 threes. The Warriors sent Miami to the line 17 times, where they made 12 free throws. The Warriors also recorded 9 steals and 6 blocks.

The Pistons moved above .500 for the season, improving to 19-18, after a 113-98 road win over the Nets on Wednesday. Detroit, favored by 9.5 points, covered the spread, and the game’s total of 211 points narrowly missed the O/U line of 211.5.

A key moment came when the Pistons went on a 12-0 run, turning a 46-41 deficit into a 53-46 lead. They then dominated the 2nd and 3rd quarters, outscoring Brooklyn 64-45, and entered the 4th quarter with a 91-70 lead before the Nets closed the gap slightly in the final period.

Malik Beasley led the Pistons with 23 points in their win over the Nets, with 10 of those coming in the 2nd quarter. He also hit 4 threes, though he shot just 36.4% from deep. Marcus Sasser was more efficient from long range, hitting 5 threes at a 71.4% clip and finishing with 15 points, including 6 in the 4th quarter.

As a team, the Pistons made 15 threes, shooting 40.5% from beyond the arc. They also shot 52.3% from the field overall. Simone Fontecchio added 17 points, with 8 coming in the 3rd quarter.

The Pistons put together a strong defensive performance on Wednesday, holding the Nets to just 98 points. Detroit gave up 25 points in the 1st quarter but tightened up in the 2nd and 3rd, allowing only 24 and 21 points, respectively. Brooklyn managed 28 points in the 4th, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Pistons’ defense.

Detroit limited the Nets to 38% shooting from the field, including 33% from beyond the arc, where Brooklyn hit 13 threes. The Pistons also sent the Nets to the line 21 times, where they made 19 free throws. On the boards, Detroit gave up 9 offensive rebounds while recording 9 steals and 9 blocks.

The Pistons is our pick to not only win with a projected score of 110-104. But we also favor them to cover the spread. Our bet is on the Pistons at -3.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 219, and our model projects the Warriors and Pistons to reach a combined total of 214 points. Our bet is on taking the under.

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Warriors Aim to Rebound Against Red-Hot Pistons

The Golden State Warriors, once a dominant force this season, find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they head to Detroit to face the surging Pistons on Thursday night.

Warriors Struggling for Form

After a blazing 12-3 start, the Warriors (15-15) have tumbled to a .500 record, punctuated by back-to-back blowout losses at home. Golden State was held under 100 points in both defeats, falling 129-99 to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday and 114-98 to the Miami Heat on Tuesday.

Stephen Curry, as usual, has been a bright spot, scoring 31 points against Miami. However, his supporting cast has struggled, with the rest of the team shooting just 38.1 percent from the floor. The frustration is evident, both in Curry’s play and his demeanor.

“At his core, he’s a winner, he’s a champion, he wants to compete at the highest level,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s really struggling with the emotion of (the team) not being competitive right now.”

Curry himself acknowledged the team’s woes. “Seems like both sides of the ball are struggling,” he said. “They’re probably connected. If you make shots, your confidence goes up; your belief that you can win the game goes up. Once you lose that spirit, it’s glaring how bad we can be at times.”

The Warriors are further hampered by injuries. Jonathan Kuminga, the team’s second-leading scorer at 16.8 points per game, is out indefinitely with a right ankle sprain, leaving Curry to shoulder an even heavier load.

Pistons on a Roll

In stark contrast, the Detroit Pistons (15-14) are enjoying their best stretch of the season. The Pistons have won five straight games and moved above .500 with a 113-98 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.

Malik Beasley led the way with 23 points, while reserves Simone Fontecchio (17 points) and Marcus Sasser (15 points) provided a significant boost. Cade Cunningham, Detroit’s franchise cornerstone, had a quiet game with 13 points and five assists but played only 24 minutes as the Pistons pulled away in the third quarter.

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First-year coach J.B. Bickerstaff has quickly earned the trust and respect of his players, turning last season’s league-worst 14-68 team into a competitive unit.

“They are a good group of guys to be around every single day,” Bickerstaff said. “From the day I got the job here, they embraced me with open arms. They want to learn, they want to be successful, they want to get better.”

Keys to the Game

1. Supporting Cast for Curry: With Kuminga sidelined, the Warriors desperately need others to step up offensively to complement Curry’s production.
2. Pistons’ Depth: Detroit’s bench, led by Fontecchio and Sasser, has been a key factor during their winning streak. Their ability to maintain intensity will be crucial.
3. Defensive Intensity: Golden State must tighten its defense after allowing an average of 121.5 points in the last two games, while the Pistons will aim to continue stifling their opponents as they have during their win streak.

The Pistons will look to capitalize on their momentum and a weary Warriors team, while Golden State seeks to rediscover the form that made them early-season contenders.