Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons Game 5 Prediction, NBA Odds
A troubling trend continues for the East’s top seed, the Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons dropped to 1-4 on the road this postseason, and dropped Game 3 and Game 4 on the road for the second consecutive series. Caris LeVert scored a team and season-high 24 points, while Cade Cunningham was held under 20 for the first time this postseason, finishing with 19 points and six assists.
Even more troubling is Jalen Duren’s continued descent. He averaged a career-high 19.5 points and grabbed 10.5 rebounds per game in the regular season, but is only going for 10.4 points and 9.2 rebounds in the playoffs. He was held to eight points and two rebounds on Monday.
Cavaliers vs. Pistons NBA Betting Odds
The Pistons are slight four-point favourites for Wednesday night’s Game 5. They are listed at -180 on the moneyline, while the Cavaliers are +150 on the NBA playoff odds.
Detroit has won five straight at home in the postseason and defeated the Cavaliers by 10 points in both Game 1 and Game 2 of this series. They are 4-2 against the spread in their last 6 games, while the Cavaliers are 0-5 straight up and against the spread on the road this postseason.
The over/under sits at 212 points. Both games in Detroit in this series have gone under. In fact, 8 of the last 10 meetings between these two teams in Detroit have gone under.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Mitchell is averaging 33 points and 6.3 rebounds this series after going for 23.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in the first round against Toronto.
James Harden had 24 points and 11 assists for his 40th career postseason double-double on Monday, followed by Evan Mobley with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists, five blocks, and three steals in a complete all-around effort.
Cleveland went 30-for-34 (88%) from the free-throw line, while the Pistons went 9-for-12 (75%). The Cavaliers cannot count on that kind of disparity regularly, but they should aim for it.
Jarrett Allen continues to work through right knee tendonitis, while Sam Merrill played in his second straight game after missing Game 2 with a left hamstring strain.
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons shot better from the field (51%-44%) and from long range (43%-34%), but were done in from the foul line. That just can’t happen again.
Tobias Harris had 16 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Paul Reed contributed 15 points off the bench.
But Duren, who is averaging just 9.5 points and 7 rebounds this series, is becoming a larger and larger hole in the middle.
Cunningham went for 32.4 points per game against the Magic in the first round, so his 23.5 points against Cleveland seem tepid in comparison. He is averaging 8.3 dimes against the Cavs.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Cavaliers vs. Pistons?
It’s hard to go against the trends right now. Cleveland (6-0) can’t lose at home, and can’t win (0-5) on the road this postseason. Detroit (5-1) is nearly as good at home, and nearly as bad on the road (1-4).
Everything else aside, the Pistons know how to grind out low-scoring victories at home. Look for them to do it again on Wednesday night, 109-101.
CLE
DET