Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons Game 1 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
After both emerging from a seven-game first-round series victorious, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons meet in an Eastern Conference semifinal beginning Tuesday in Detroit at 7 p.m. ET.
The Cavaliers survived a first-round series with the Toronto Raptors in which the home team won every game. That benefited Cleveland in the first round, but it works against them now against Detroit.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 23.1 points against Toronto, followed by James Harden with 20.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds. Evan Mobley had a complete series, averaging 18.1 points and 8.6 rebounds.
After falling behind 3-1 against Orlando, the Pistons woke up and won three straight against the Magic by a total of 43 points. The series served as a wake-up call for Detroit. Cade Cunningham was awake the entire time, however, averaging 32.4 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in the series.
Cavaliers vs. Pistons NBA Betting Odds
The Pistons are slight three-point favourites on the NBA odds in Tuesday’s series opener. They are listed at -150 on the moneyline, while the Cavaliers are +175.
Cleveland went 3-1 against the spread against the Pistons this season, as the teams split their four-game season series. Both teams won once at home and away.
The over/under sits at 216 points. These teams have played to the under six times in their last eight meetings in Detroit.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers came into the postseason winners of five of six, but had to hold off a game Toronto squad. Jarrett Allen had a dominating Game 7 performance with 22 points and 19 rebounds as Cleveland advanced with a 114-102 victory at home in the series finale.
However, Cleveland will need to solve its recent road woes if it hopes to advance any further. The Cavaliers went 25-16 away from home in the regular season, winning seven of their last nine.
But three straight losses in Toronto require immediate answers against a Detroit side that recently regained its mojo.
Cleveland sports a clean bill of health, although Allen has been working through right knee tendonitis.
Detroit Pistons
Whew! The Pistons came a hair away from a massive first-round upset as the East’s top seed. Instead, Detroit responded with championship resolve. Cunningham had 32 points and 12 assists, and Tobias Harris added 30 points as Detroit won a playoff series for the first time since 2008.
Cunningham is already a superstar, but he may have to take his game to an even higher level against a Cleveland squad that has bested the Pistons in 14 of the past 17 meetings.
How Jalen Duren, who averaged 10.6 points and 9.4 rebounds in a somewhat lacklustre first-rebound performance, performs inside against Mobley will play a major role in who advances out of his semifinal series.
Like Cleveland, the Pistons come into this series with a relatively clean bill of health.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Cavaliers vs. Pistons Game 1?
Detroit turned a corner with its series win over the Magic. How the Pistons did it could also help propel them deep in this postseason.
Make no mistake; the Cavaliers come into Motor City unafraid of their counterparts, and that should play out in a thrilling series. However, Detroit is still on its survival high, and Cunningham and company will translate that into a series-opening victory this evening, 106-98.
CLE
DET