Charlotte Hornets vs Detroit Pistons Betting Pick & Prediction 1/3/25
At 7:00 ET, the Pistons (-243) will host the Hornets (+200) in an Eastern Conference matchup. Detroit is favored by 6.5 points and has a record of 15-18, while Charlotte is 7-25 and has lost eight straight games.
This game will be played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and can be seen on FDSD. The over/under line for this game is 216.5.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS VS DETROIT PISTONS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Charlotte Hornets +6.5
This game will be played at Little Caesars Arena at 7:00 ET on Friday, January 3rd.
WHY BET THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 135-100 in favor of the Hornets.
- Our projections have LaMelo Ball finishing with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.
- From the field, we have the Hornets finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.4% and knocking down 15 threes.
Can the Hornets Pull Off a Win at Detroit?
Charlotte’s season struggles continued with a 115-108 loss to the Bulls on Monday, dropping their record to 7-25. The Hornets were +4 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The game total of 223 points fell just short of the 224.5 O/U line.
Charlotte started strong with a 13-0 run, but a 37-22 2nd quarter in favor of Chicago put them in a hole. The Hornets battled back, narrowing the gap to 73-71 entering the 4th quarter, but ultimately fell short as the Bulls edged them out 25-27 in the final period.
The Hornets struggled offensively in their loss to the Bulls, shooting just 41.6% from the field and connecting on only 10 three-pointers at a 23.3% clip. Miles Bridges led the way with 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, though he hit just 15.4% from deep.
Mark Williams was perfect from the field, scoring 20 points and grabbing 12 boards, while Seth Curry added 17 points, 12 of which came in the opening quarter. Curry also made 3 threes, shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc.
Defensively, the Hornets were strong in the 1st and 3rd quarters, giving up just 15 and 21 points, respectively, but a rough 2nd quarter where they allowed 37 points contributed to their 115-108 loss to the Bulls. Charlotte held Chicago to 37% shooting overall.
The Hornets struggled to contain the Bulls from deep, allowing 18 made threes on 30% shooting. Charlotte sent Chicago to the line 27 times, where they made 19 free throws. The Hornets finished with 47 defensive rebounds, gave up 14 offensive boards, and recorded 8 steals and 6 blocks.
Will the Pistons Live Up to Expectations at Home?
With a 105-96 win over the Magic on Wednesday, the Pistons improved to 15-18 for the season. Playing at home, Detroit entered the game as -2.5 point favorites and covered the spread. The total score of 201 points fell short of the 212-point over/under line.
Detroit took control early, leading 31-21 after the 1st quarter and 34-28 in the 2nd. Orlando made a push in the 3rd, outscoring the Pistons 26-19, but Detroit’s 10-0 run from 79-63 to 89-63 helped them maintain their lead, as both teams scored 21 points in the 4th quarter.
Jaden Ivey’s 22 points and 5 threes on 83.3% shooting from deep helped the Pistons to a win over the Magic. Ivey shot 72.7% from the field, with 10 of his points coming in the 1st quarter. Cade Cunningham added 19 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds, hitting 4 threes at 66.7% efficiency.
Jalen Duren contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 90% from the field. Tim Hardaway scored 10 of his 12 points in the 4th quarter. The Pistons shot 51.9% from the field and 41.4% from three, making 12 threes in the game.
The Pistons put together a strong defensive performance on Wednesday, holding the Magic to just 96 points. Detroit gave up 21 points in both the 1st and 4th quarters, while allowing 28 in the 2nd and 26 in the 3rd.
Detroit limited Orlando to 40% shooting from the field, including just 8 made threes on 22% shooting. The Magic also went 14/20 from the free-throw line. The Pistons grabbed 40 defensive rebounds, gave up 9 offensive boards, and recorded 7 steals.