by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Jan 31, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Where to watch: BSDET, NBCSWA
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Wizards -6
FanDuel: Wizards -5.5
BetMGM: Wizards -5.5
Caesars: Wizards -5.5
Season record
Wizards: 24-26
Pistons: 13-39
The second half of the basketball season is upon us, and what a cluster we've got in the standings right now, right? So many teams are in the playoff hunt, so many teams not expected to make the playoffs are in the process of trying to prove people wrong. You know who doesn't need to be made wrong? Our champion handicappers who have been killing it all year long. Scott Rickenbach is coming off a 5-2-0 week over the last seven days, while Doc's Sports has been efficient at 14-8-0 over the last 30 days. Do you want to get on this winning? Make sure you're following our champion handicappers at bigal.com to celebrate in these moments!
Wizards - Pistons preview, prediction and analysis
Recent form
Wizards: won 127-106 at Spurs
Pistons: lost 111-105 at Mavs
The Washington Wizards will be playing the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, February 1 in Detroit, Michigan.
The Washington Wizards won against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, January 30 in San Antonio, Texas with a score of 127-106. The Washington Wizards currently rank 3rd in the Southeast Division.
Deni Avdija had a career-high 25 points, Bradley Beal had 21 points and the Washington Wizards ended a 22-game losing streak to the Spurs.
Washington, which last won in San Antonio on Dec. 11, 1999, has won six straight for its longest winning streak since a six-game run in 2015.
“You never want to be on the losing end of that streak, but it’s good to get that one off our chest,” said Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr., who was an advance scout with the team in 1999.
Kristaps Porzingis added 17 points and nine rebounds after a fast start for Washington.
The Wizards led 63-55 at halftime and never trailed in the second half. The Spurs closed within four points midway through the third quarter, but Washington responded with an 8-0 run to regain a double-digit advantage.
Porzingis scored 13 of the Wizards’ first 19 points. Jakob Poeltl picked up two fouls in the opening four minutes, forcing the Spurs to bring Zach Collins in sooner than usual.
Avdija responded by scoring 23 points in the final three quarters to help the Wizards win here for the first time since he was 2 years old.
“The streak is done,” Avdija said. “Just to close that circle and be here and having a good game versus the Spurs and end that streak. I think everybody did a really great job competing. When we’re focused and sharing the ball, we’re a really dangerous team.”
The Washington Wizards have won seven of their last 10 games.
The Detroit Pistons lost against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, January 30 in Dallas, Texas with a score of 111-105. The Detroit Pistons currently rank 5th in the Central Division.
Bojan Bogdanovic had 29 points and Saddiq Bey scored 18 — including five 3-pointers — for the Pistons (13-39), who have lost six of seven.
Luka Doncic’s final basket was a shot that bounced off the front rim and dropped in to put Dallas ahead 109-105 with 46 seconds left. On the Pistons’ next possession, Bogdanovic missed a long 3-pointer near the right sideline amid traffic and landed on his backside out of bounds.
“We thought Bojan got fouled,” Detroit coach Dwane Casey said. “You still have to play in all those situations and close out the game, because we put ourselves in a situation to win.”
The Pistons were called for 31 fouls to the Mavericks’ 18. Doncic was 14 of 18 at the free throw line while Detroit went 19 for 27.
Detroit led by 11 in the third quarter and 84-83 going into the fourth. Dallas opened the period on a 9-2 run with Doncic on the bench, as Dinwiddie scored six points on his first three field goals of the game.
The Detroit Pistons have won two of their last 10 games.
Prediction
The Pistons are scrappy despite losing a lot. But this will be a good chance for the Wizards to keep the good times rolling. Wizards 118, Pistons 108
The Washington Wizards will be playing the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, February 1 in Detroit, Michigan.
The Washington Wizards won against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, January 30 in San Antonio, Texas with a score of 127-106. The Washington Wizards currently rank 3rd in the Southeast Division.
Deni Avdija had a career-high 25 points, Bradley Beal had 21 points and the Washington Wizards ended a 22-game losing streak to the Spurs.
Washington, which last won in San Antonio on Dec. 11, 1999, has won six straight for its longest winning streak since a six-game run in 2015.
“You never want to be on the losing end of that streak, but it’s good to get that one off our chest,” said Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr., who was an advance scout with the team in 1999.
Kristaps Porzingis added 17 points and nine rebounds after a fast start for Washington.
The Wizards led 63-55 at halftime and never trailed in the second half. The Spurs closed within four points midway through the third quarter, but Washington responded with an 8-0 run to regain a double-digit advantage.
Porzingis scored 13 of the Wizards’ first 19 points. Jakob Poeltl picked up two fouls in the opening four minutes, forcing the Spurs to bring Zach Collins in sooner than usual.
Avdija responded by scoring 23 points in the final three quarters to help the Wizards win here for the first time since he was 2 years old.
“The streak is done,” Avdija said. “Just to close that circle and be here and having a good game versus the Spurs and end that streak. I think everybody did a really great job competing. When we’re focused and sharing the ball, we’re a really dangerous team.”
The Washington Wizards have won seven of their last 10 games.
The Detroit Pistons lost against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, January 30 in Dallas, Texas with a score of 111-105. The Detroit Pistons currently rank 5th in the Central Division.
Bojan Bogdanovic had 29 points and Saddiq Bey scored 18 — including five 3-pointers — for the Pistons (13-39), who have lost six of seven.
Luka Doncic’s final basket was a shot that bounced off the front rim and dropped in to put Dallas ahead 109-105 with 46 seconds left. On the Pistons’ next possession, Bogdanovic missed a long 3-pointer near the right sideline amid traffic and landed on his backside out of bounds.
“We thought Bojan got fouled,” Detroit coach Dwane Casey said. “You still have to play in all those situations and close out the game, because we put ourselves in a situation to win.”
The Pistons were called for 31 fouls to the Mavericks’ 18. Doncic was 14 of 18 at the free throw line while Detroit went 19 for 27.
Detroit led by 11 in the third quarter and 84-83 going into the fourth. Dallas opened the period on a 9-2 run with Doncic on the bench, as Dinwiddie scored six points on his first three field goals of the game.
The Detroit Pistons have won two of their last 10 games.
Prediction
The Pistons are scrappy despite losing a lot. But this will be a good chance for the Wizards to keep the good times rolling. Wizards 118, Pistons 108
Betting trends
Wizards are 16-11 ATS on the road this season.
Wizards are 24-11 ATS after a win by 10 points or more the last 3 seasons.
Pistons are 1-7 ATS after 2 straight unders this season.
Projected starting lineup
Wizards:
PG: Monte Morris
SG: Bradley Beal
SF: Kyle Kuzma
PF: Kristaps Porzingis
C: Daniel Gafford
Pistons:
PG: Jaden Ivey
SG: Alec Burks
SF: Saddiq Bey
PF: Bojan Bogdanovic
C: Jalen Duren
Statistical leaders
Wizards:
Points: Two tied -- 22.0
Rebounds: Kristaps Porzingis -- 8.8
Assists: Monte Morris -- 5.3
Pistons:
Points: Bojan Bogdanovic -- 21.4
Rebounds: Jalen Duren -- 8.5
Assists: Killian Hayes -- 5.8
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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.
