by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Where to watch: BSSE-CHA, BSDET
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Hornets -3
FanDuel: Hornets -3
BetMGM: Hornets -3
Caesars: Hornets -3
Season record
Hornets: 21-46
Pistons: 15-51
The All-Star break is over in the NBA and it's time to get on the horse and finish up the final home stretch of the season. Big trades, uncertainty, and absolute hilarity across the board all gearing up for the final home stretch of this season. You know who is also gearing up for the home stretch? Our champion handicappers at bigal.com who are ready to win their way all the way to the playoffs. There's a lot going on that we can't wait for in these final 23-25 games and you're going to need every bit of hardcore analysis you can get from this group. Just in the last 30 days we've had some big winners. Doc's Sports has posted a 16-6-0 record in the last month (+$9,200). AAA Sports has killed it at 17-8-0, and then Al McMordie with a dominant 20-11-1 mark over the last 30 days. Everything you need to know and more about what's going on this league and sports in general will be a fun finish to the end. All you have to do is go to bigal.com and find our Best Bets page and put forth something that only you think is good. Here's a hint: Go to the bigal.com website and happy betting!
Hornets - Pistons preview, prediction and analysis
On March 9, 2023, the Charlotte Hornets will face off against the Detroit Pistons at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. If you’re a fan of the teams at the bottom of the standings, this is the game for you.
The Hornets, currently at 21-46 and without LaMelo Ball for the rest of the season, are coming off one of their best wins of the season, 112-105 over the New York Knicks to end their nine-game winning streak, and it was on the road, nonetheless. Kelly Oubre Jr. led the way with 27 points and five rebounds, and Terry Rozier added 25 points on 10 of 22 shooting. Gordon Hayward, for good measure, finished with 23 points.
“I think at this point in time in the season everyone is tired,” Hayward said. “You’re going through it and games are every other night and they obviously had some emotional wins, too. That’s another part of fatigue, not just the physical but the mental and the emotional. So for us to win tonight was big for our team.”
The Hornets had put together an impressive five-game winning streak that followed with a three-game losing streak against Phoenix, Orlando and Brooklyn, all without Ball in the lineup. But to get the win over the Knicks and ending that streak is one of the more perfect ways to sum up this Hornets season.
The Pistons, meanwhile, are trying to avoid their losing streak hitting 10 games and it could very well get there. Detroit is coming off a 119-117 loss to the Washington Wizards at home, a game in which Jaden Ivey had another impressive performance with 26 points and 12 assists. He was one of six players to score in double figures with the Pistons shooting 51.2 percent from the floor. It just wasn’t enough at the other end. James Wiseman added 21 points.
“Everyone looks at the last play, but there were a lot of plays before that,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “I applaud those guys for fighting that hard against a team trying to make the playoffs. A lot of them weren't here two weeks ago, and they are still figuring out how to play together.”
Despite their recent improvements, the Pistons will face a tough test against the Hornets, who have won both of their previous matchups this season. The Hornets' offense has been one of the most potent in the league, ranking fifth in scoring with an average of 114.6 points per game. The Pistons, on the other hand, have struggled to score this season, ranking 28th in scoring with an average of just 101.3 points per game.
Defensively, the Hornets have been solid this season, ranking 11th in points allowed with an average of 107.6 points per game. The Pistons have also been respectable on defense, ranking 19th in points allowed with an average of 111.2 points per game.
The key to this game will be the battle between the Hornets' high-powered offense and the Pistons' solid defense. If the Hornets can continue to score at their usual rate, they should be able to come away with a win. However, if the Pistons can slow down the Hornets' offense and keep the game low-scoring, they may have a chance to pull off an upset.
Another factor to watch will be the battle on the glass. The Hornets have been a solid rebounding team this season, ranking sixth in the league with an average of 45.6 rebounds per game. The Pistons have struggled in this area, ranking 25th in rebounding with an average of just 42.6 rebounds per game. If the Hornets can dominate the boards and limit second-chance opportunities for the Pistons, they should be able to control the game.
Prediction
This feels like the perfect trap game for Charlotte, with Detroit seemingly on the verge of breaking through. This should be a nightmare to bet, though. Pistons 119, Hornets 116
The Hornets, currently at 21-46 and without LaMelo Ball for the rest of the season, are coming off one of their best wins of the season, 112-105 over the New York Knicks to end their nine-game winning streak, and it was on the road, nonetheless. Kelly Oubre Jr. led the way with 27 points and five rebounds, and Terry Rozier added 25 points on 10 of 22 shooting. Gordon Hayward, for good measure, finished with 23 points.
“I think at this point in time in the season everyone is tired,” Hayward said. “You’re going through it and games are every other night and they obviously had some emotional wins, too. That’s another part of fatigue, not just the physical but the mental and the emotional. So for us to win tonight was big for our team.”
The Hornets had put together an impressive five-game winning streak that followed with a three-game losing streak against Phoenix, Orlando and Brooklyn, all without Ball in the lineup. But to get the win over the Knicks and ending that streak is one of the more perfect ways to sum up this Hornets season.
The Pistons, meanwhile, are trying to avoid their losing streak hitting 10 games and it could very well get there. Detroit is coming off a 119-117 loss to the Washington Wizards at home, a game in which Jaden Ivey had another impressive performance with 26 points and 12 assists. He was one of six players to score in double figures with the Pistons shooting 51.2 percent from the floor. It just wasn’t enough at the other end. James Wiseman added 21 points.
“Everyone looks at the last play, but there were a lot of plays before that,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “I applaud those guys for fighting that hard against a team trying to make the playoffs. A lot of them weren't here two weeks ago, and they are still figuring out how to play together.”
Despite their recent improvements, the Pistons will face a tough test against the Hornets, who have won both of their previous matchups this season. The Hornets' offense has been one of the most potent in the league, ranking fifth in scoring with an average of 114.6 points per game. The Pistons, on the other hand, have struggled to score this season, ranking 28th in scoring with an average of just 101.3 points per game.
Defensively, the Hornets have been solid this season, ranking 11th in points allowed with an average of 107.6 points per game. The Pistons have also been respectable on defense, ranking 19th in points allowed with an average of 111.2 points per game.
The key to this game will be the battle between the Hornets' high-powered offense and the Pistons' solid defense. If the Hornets can continue to score at their usual rate, they should be able to come away with a win. However, if the Pistons can slow down the Hornets' offense and keep the game low-scoring, they may have a chance to pull off an upset.
Another factor to watch will be the battle on the glass. The Hornets have been a solid rebounding team this season, ranking sixth in the league with an average of 45.6 rebounds per game. The Pistons have struggled in this area, ranking 25th in rebounding with an average of just 42.6 rebounds per game. If the Hornets can dominate the boards and limit second-chance opportunities for the Pistons, they should be able to control the game.
Prediction
This feels like the perfect trap game for Charlotte, with Detroit seemingly on the verge of breaking through. This should be a nightmare to bet, though. Pistons 119, Hornets 116
Projected starting lineup
Hornets:
PG: Terry Rozier
SG: Kelly Oubre Jr.
SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: P.J. Washington
C: Mark Williams
Pistons:
PG: Killian Hayes
SG: Jaden Ivey
SF: Isaiah Livers
PF: Marvin Bagley III
C: James Wiseman
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this preview, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
