After the entire league took the day off for Thanksgiving, the NBA returns with an afternoon matchup on Friday. The Los Angeles Clippers host the Detroit Pistons in a cross-conference battle. The Clippers are 10-8 overall and 8-4 at home this season, with the Pistons entering at 4-14 overall and 2-6 on the road. Kawhi Leonard (knee) and Nicolas Batum (protocols) are out for the Clippers. Kelly Olynyk (knee) is out for the Pistons, with Killian Hayes (thumb) listed as doubtful for Detroit.
Tipoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET in Los Angeles. Caesars Sportsbook lists Los Angeles as the 11.5-point home favorite, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 206.5 in the latest Pistons vs. Clippers odds. Before making any Clippers vs. Pistons picks or NBA predictions, see what SportsLine’s advanced computer model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 6 of the 2021-22 NBA season up over $1,200 on all top-rated NBA picks this season. It’s also on a stunning 115-76 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread that dates back to last season. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Clippers vs. Pistons. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds, betting lines and trends for Pistons vs. Clippers:
- Pistons vs. Clippers spread: Clippers -11.5
- Pistons vs. Clippers over-under: 206.5 points
- Pistons vs. Clippers money line: Clippers -800, Pistons +550
- DET: The Pistons are 8-10 against the spread this season
- LAC: The Clippers are 9-9 against the spread in 2021-22
Featured Game | Los Angeles Clippers vs. Detroit Pistons
Why the Pistons can cover
Detroit is struggling early this season, but the Pistons have a few paths to success in this matchup. The Pistons are above average in offensive rebound rate at 27.1 percent, and the Clippers are below-average on the defensive glass. Detroit is also a top-eight team in free-throw creation, averaging 21.2 attempts per game. On the other end, the Pistons create havoc, forcing the third-most turnovers per game in the league at 16.7 per game.
That includes 8.6 steals per game, a top-eight mark, and Detroit is playing a Clippers team that is bottom-three in the league in free- throw attempts at 17.7 per game. L.A. is also a bottom-five team in offensive rebound rate at 24.3 percent, and Detroit ranks in the top 10 in 3-point attempt rate allowed this season. With the Clippers often bombing away from long distance, that resistance will be key for the Pistons.
Why the Clippers can cover
The Clippers are known for offense and, after leading the league in 3-point shooting a year ago, it is easy to see why. With that said, Los Angeles has been lights-out on the defensive end in 2021-22, and this is also a favorable matchup. The Clippers are allowing 102.5 points per 100 possessions, a top-three mark in the NBA, and no team is allowing fewer free-throw attempts (16.1 per game) than Los Angeles.
The Clippers rank in the top 10 in the NBA in field-goal percentage allowed (43.3 percent) and 3-point percentage allowed (33.1 percent), with a top-five mark in assists allowed (21.6 per game). Los Angeles also creates havoc on a regular basis, forcing a turnover on 15.6 percent of possessions, and the Clippers rank in the top 10 with 8.3 steals per game. Detroit has struggled mightily on the offensive end this season, ranking in the bottom three of the NBA in both offensive efficiency and shooting efficiency, and the Clippers have been even better at home, allowing only a point per possession.
