Pistons vs. Lakers forecast, odds, selection

We’re back again with another NBA prediction and pick as we turn our attention to the next showdown between the top seeds. The Detroit Pistons (24-8) will visit Los Angeles Lakers (20-10) for their first of two meetings this season. Check out ours NBA odds series for the Pistons-Lakers prediction and pick.

The Detroit Pistons currently lead the Eastern Conference, but recently lost 112-99 to the Los Angeles Clippers. They are 2-2 in this current standing and will play their final game in LA before returning home, billed as slight favorites in their first meeting against the Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers are fifth in the Western Conference, and last they defeated the Sacramento Kings with 125-101. They have split their last 10 games at 5-5 and are dealing with a number of new injuries, but should have a chance to bounce back with their 8-5 record at home.

NBA odds thanks to DraftKings

Pistons vs. Lakers Odds

Detroit Pistons: -2.5 (-115)

Los Angeles Lakers: +2.5 (-105)

Over: 233.5 (-110)

Under: 233.5 (-110)

Pistons vs Lakers Key Injuries

Detroit: Caris LeVert (Knee-deep Doubt)

Los Angeles: Rui Hachimura (pole – OUT) / Austin Reeves (tele – OUT) / Gabe Vincent (back – OUT)

Pistons vs Lakers betting trends

• The Los Angeles Lakers are 8-5 at home. The Detroit Pistons are 11-6 on the road.
• Lakers are 17-13 ATS overall, 7-6 ATS at home. The Pistons are 17-15 ATS overall, 8-9 ATS on the road.
• The Pistons are 12-4 as betting favorites. The Lakers are 5-1 as underdogs.
• Lakers are 7-3 in their last 10 games against the Pistons. The Pistons are 6-4 ATS in those games.
• The Pistons are 5-11 ATS in the last 16 games.
• The Lakers are 1-4 ATS in the last five games.
• The total is gone UNDER in four of the Lakers’ last five games.
• The total has fallen below that in five of the Pistons’ last seven games.

Keys to the Pistons vs. Lakers matchup

The Pistons and Lakers meet for the first time this season, and both teams are playing extremely well, but the Lakers have been ravaged by recent injuries. When Luka Dončić, LeBron Jamesand Austin Reaves share the floor, the Lakers are versatile and play to their highest potential. With Reaves for the next four weeksThe Lakers will need to find secondary answers to offset his 26.6 PPG, the 11th-highest mark in the NBA. Luka Doncic leads the NBA with 33.7 PPG and is also eighth in the league with 8.6 APG.

While Luka Doncic is more than capable of leading the Lakers to victory, it will be especially difficult against a disciplined defensive team like the Detroit Pistons. Not only is it a big jump Cade Cunningham they’ve done wonders for the Pistons this year, but they’re also the second-best defensive team in the NBA, behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder. Around the rim, both Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart have grown into strong defensive options who can stay physical while working rebounds.

The matchup between Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic will be the most critical during this game as Luka Doncic is known to be missing as a defender on the ball around the perimeter. For a player like Cade Cunningham, this bodes perfectly with his changes of direction and speed when driving to the rim. Assuming both players focus on their offensive production, we should see high-scoring games from both guards in this one.

However, the Pistons may have the edge in the paint despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ tall lineup. The Pistons are averaging the second-most rebounds per game (46.9), while the Lakers are grabbing the fifth-fewest (41.2). This should be the main mismatch between these two teams, especially with Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura out for the Lakers.

Pistons vs. Lakers prediction and pick

This should be exciting as both teams are expected to be contenders in their respective conferences by the end of the season. The Lakers will have to adjust to life without Austin Reaves for the next month and it will be interesting to see how they make up for his output. LeBron James may need to be more active on offense while allowing Luka Doncic to score at will, as he has done all season.

I think the Pistons are a tough matchup for the Lakers defensively and we should see Cade Cunningham have another big game in this one given the Lakers weak perimeter defense. The rebounding discrepancy is also telling, so we’ll play the Detroit Pistons to win this game by a wide margin.

Final forecast Pistons-Lakers and selection: Detroit Pistons -2.5 (-115); UNDER 233.5 (-110)