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Detroit Pistons vs New Orleans Pelicans March 23rd 2025
Today at 3:00 ET, the Detroit Pistons (-573) will host the New Orleans Pelicans (+421) in a non-conference matchup. The Pistons are favored by 11.5 points, and the over/under line is set at 230.5.
This game will be played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The Pistons are currently 6th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 39-32, while the Pelicans are 14th in the Western Conference at 19-52.
Pelicans vs. Pistons Key Information
- Sport: NBA
- Teams: New Orleans Pelicans at Detroit Pistons
- Where: Detroit at Little Caesars Arena
- Date: Sunday, March 23rd
- Betting Odds DET -11.5, NO +421 | DET -573 O/U 230.5
The Pelicans Can Win If…
The Pelicans dropped to 19-52 on the season after a 134-93 road loss to the Timberwolves on Friday. New Orleans entered the game as +15 point underdogs but failed to cover the spread, losing by 41 points. The total score of 227 points went over the pre-game line of 222.5.
A key moment came when Minnesota went on a 12-0 run, stretching the score from 34-33 to 45-34. After that, the Timberwolves continued to dominate, outscoring the Pelicans 97-72 heading into the 4th quarter and finishing with a 37-21 advantage in the final period.
In Friday’s loss to the Timberwolves, the Pelicans managed just 93 points, with CJ McCollum leading the way with 15 points, 7 of which came in the 1st quarter. Bruce Brown added 14 points, scoring 6 in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, while Antonio Reeves contributed all 11 of his points in the 4th.
New Orleans shot 50% from the field and made 11 threes at a 35.5% clip. Brown connected on 3 threes, hitting 75% from deep, and finished with a 62.5% overall shooting percentage.
The Pelicans struggled defensively on Friday, giving up 134 points to the Timberwolves. New Orleans allowed 28 points in the 1st quarter, followed by 34 in the 2nd. Things didn’t improve after halftime, as they gave up 35 points in the 3rd and 37 in the 4th.
Overall, the Timberwolves shot 53% from the field, including 43% from three-point range, where they hit 19 threes. Minnesota also went 19/20 from the free-throw line. The Pelicans recorded 11 steals and 4 blocks in the game.
- In their last ten games away from home, the Pelicans have a straight up record of 3-7 while going 2-8 vs. the spread. The team averaged 112 points per game in this stretch.
- Spanning across their last five games as the betting underdog, the Pelicans have gone 2-3 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-3.
- Over their last five games, the Pelicans have an over/under record of 2-3 and are 1-4 vs. the spread.
The Pistons Can Win If…
The Pistons fell to 39-32 on the season after a 123-117 road loss to the Mavericks on Friday. Detroit, who entered the game as -9.5 point favorites, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The combined score of 240 points exceeded the O/U line of 231.5 by 8.5 points.
Detroit trailed 35-27 after the 1st quarter but tightened things up in the 2nd, outscoring Dallas 27-25. The Mavericks edged the Pistons 31-29 in the 3rd, leaving Detroit down 91-83 going into the 4th. Despite a strong final quarter where they outscored Dallas 34-32, the Pistons couldn’t complete the comeback.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 35 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in their 123-117 loss to the Mavericks, shooting 50% from the field and hitting 2 threes at 40%. Malik Beasley added 16 points, knocking down 5 threes at 45.5%, while Jalen Duren contributed 14 points, shooting a perfect 100% from the field.
As a team, the Pistons shot 46.9% from the field and made 11 threes at a 35.5% clip. Cunningham scored 16 points in the 4th quarter, while Beasley and Dennis Schröder each added 6 points in the final period.
Defensively, the Pistons struggled against the Mavericks, giving up 123 points on 52% shooting. Their best quarter was the 2nd, where they allowed 25 points, but they gave up 35 in the 1st and 32 in the 4th.
From beyond the arc, Detroit allowed 12 threes on 35% shooting. They also sent Dallas to the line 36 times, with the Mavericks making 27 free throws. The Pistons finished with 14 steals and 5 blocks.
- Across their ten previous home games, Detroit has an ATS mark of 6-3-1. Their straight up record in these matchups was 7-3 while averaging 123 points per game.
- As the betting favorite, the Pistons have an ATS mark of just 5-5 in their last ten games. Detroit posted a straight up mark of 6-4 in these matchups.
- In their last five games, the Pistons have an over/under record of 2-3 and are 2-3 vs. the spread.
The Lean
For a point-spread bet in this Pelicans vs. Pistons matchup, we’re leaning towards the Pelicans at +11.5. Although our projections show the Pistons winning 114-111, we suggest placing your bet on the Pelicans for the point-spread.
Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 230.5 and given that our model is projecting 225 points between the teams, we like the under.
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Pistons Face Struggling Pelicans for Second Time This Week
The Detroit Pistons are gearing up to face the New Orleans Pelicans for the second time this week after delivering a crushing blow to the Pelicans on their home floor on Monday. As the two teams meet again on Sunday afternoon, the Pelicans will look to bounce back from that demoralizing loss.
Dominant Performance from Detroit
The Pistons dominated from start to finish in their last encounter, leading by 22 points at the end of the first quarter and extending that margin to 31 by halftime, en route to a staggering 127-81 victory. The Pelicans struggled with accuracy, shooting just 32.6 percent from the field while committing 17 turnovers.
To make matters worse for New Orleans, they lost forward Trey Murphy to a season-ending shoulder injury during the game after a collision with Pistons forward Ausar Thompson.
“We looked like a team that forgot how to play basketball,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said after his team suffered one of the most lopsided losses in franchise history.
For the latest NBA picks and predictions, visit the NBA Picks and Predictions page for expert analysis.
Pelicans’ Attempt at Redemption
Despite the humiliating defeat, the Pelicans managed to bounce back by defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-115 on Wednesday. However, their renewed momentum was short-lived as they faced a crushing 134-93 loss to the Timberwolves in a subsequent rematch on Friday.
Star forward Zion Williamson, who had contributed 29 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in the first game against Minnesota, was sidelined for the rematch due to a lower back contusion.
“(Friday) was more about us just being careless, being mindless,” coach Willie Green said. “We know we can be better. In order to give ourselves a chance to win these games, our guys know we have to take care of the basketball.”
For the latest insights on the Pelicans’ odds and betting tips, check out the NBA Western Conference Odds & Predictions.
Pistons Aiming for Home-Court Advantage
Currently holding the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference standings, the Pistons are trying to overtake the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks for the fourth spot, which would grant them home-court advantage in the first playoff round.
However, Detroit stumbled on Friday, losing to an injury-plagued Dallas Mavericks squad by a score of 123-117. Despite the efforts of All-Star Cade Cunningham, who led the team with 35 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, the Pistons struggled to control the tempo and manage fast breaks.
“We just didn’t do the job defensively that we’re capable of, and that’s what it came down to,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We were giving up shots at the rim and offensive rebounds because our bigs had to help.”
Key Injury Concerns
The Pistons were also without starting wing Tim Hardaway Jr. for the second half against Dallas due to a right ankle sprain. His availability for Detroit’s upcoming three-game homestand remains uncertain.
For injury updates and betting insights, visit the NBA Injury Report.
What to Expect
Detroit will also host the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday and the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. The Pistons will be looking to solidify their playoff positioning with consistent performances at home.
Keep up with the latest NBA betting tips and predictions by visiting the NBA Expert Betting Guide.
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