The Brooklyn Nets (19-26) take on the Detroit Pistons (17-31) at the Barclays Center. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 29, 2020, and will air on ESPN.
Detroit Pistons vs. Brooklyn Nets Free Prediction
The Pistons are hoping to rebound after failing to cover as 6.5-point favorites in their 115-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in their last outing. The total points for the game (215) were just over the projected point total of 213.5. Cleveland’s turnover percentage was their largest advantage over Detroit. The Cavaliers had a rate of 11.3 (better than their season average of 14.0), while the Pistons posted a mark of 15.7 (above the 11.0 mark opponents have averaged against Cleveland this season). Detroit’s Andre Drummond had a good performance, contributing 15 points and eight rebounds.
In the Nets’ last game, they were beaten by the New York Knicks, 110-97. They were not able to cover as 2-point underdogs. The game’s total points (207) came in under the projected point total of 218.5. New York’s rebounding was their biggest advantage. The Knicks had 14 offensive rebounds and 48 total rebounds, while the Nets had seven and 34, respectively. With 23 points on 7-for-17 shooting, Spencer Dinwiddie was the top scorer from either team.
Both teams have won a game in the season series. The Nets won the most recent matchup 121-111, covering as 2.5-point favorites. The game finished with a total of 232 points, which was just 3.5 points above the projected point total of 228.5 points. Brooklyn was effective at getting to and converting from the charity stripe. The Nets made 22 of their 25 free throws (88.0 percent), while the Pistons were just 12-18 (66.7 percent). Kyrie Irving was the game’s leading scorer with 45 points.
Detroit heads into the game with records of 17-31 straight up (SU) and 17-29-2 against the spread (ATS). Of the Pistons’ 48 games, 30 have finished over the O/U total.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn owns records of 19-26 SU and 19-25-1 ATS. A little over half of Nets games have finished over the projected point total.
It will be a battle of conflicting tempos as the up-tempo Nets will look to push the slower-paced Pistons. The Nets currently rank seventh in possessions per game while the Pistons are 18th.
Detroit Pistons vs. Brooklyn Nets ATS Pick
Pick: ATS Winner – Nets, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
On the road, Detroit is 8-13-2 ATS with 12 overs and 11 unders.
Brooklyn is 11-12 ATS at home with 11 overs, 11 unders and 1 push.
When holding opponents under 100 points, Detroit is 4-0 and Brooklyn is 4-1.
The Nets are 19-19 when they score more than 100 points, while the Pistons are 16-23.
Brooklyn ranks third in rebounds per game (48.2) while Detroit ranks 29th (42.3).
The Nets average 50.0 points in the paint per game, which ranks fifth in the league. The Pistons rank 25th in points allowed in the paint per game (51.7).
Detroit ranks second in three pointers allowed per game (30.1) while Brooklyn ranks 19th (34.5).
The Nets rank second in assists allowed per game (21.8) while the Pistons rank 18th (24.5).
Detroit ranks 14th in steals per game (7.7) while Brooklyn ranks 25th (6.8).
The Pistons rank 17th in blocks per game (4.8) while the Nets rank 25th in blocks allowed per game (5.6).
Brooklyn averages 13.6 second chance points per game, which ranks 10th in the league. Detroit ranks 18th in second chance points allowed per game (13.4).
The Pistons average 16.6 points off turnovers per game, which ranks 19th in the NBA. The Nets rank 22nd in points off turnovers allowed per game (17.8).
Over its last five contests, Detroit is 1-4 ATS with 4 overs and 1 under.
Brooklyn is 1-4 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders over its last five games.
The Pistons’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 4.6, up from 2.1 for the season.
During their last five games, the Nets have scored an average of 107.8 points per game (1.6 below their season average) and allowed an average of 116.6 points per game (4.7 above their season average).
