The Pistons may not have MVP candidate Cade Cunningham (24.5 PPG, 9.9 APG) healthy right now, but they have won six of seven without him, tightening their defence, and currently have a four-game lead in the Eastern Conference. 

Tonight, the Pistons battle the West’s top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (59-16, 31-6 Home), and nobody is giving Detroit a chance. This game tips off at 9:30 PM ET on Peacock / NBCSN from Paycom Center, and the Thunder are on the second night of a back-to-back after defeating the Knicks on Sunday.  

Pistons vs. Thunder NBA Betting Odds

The latest Pistons vs. Thunder odds at Sports Interaction can be found below:

The Pistons come into this game 39-35 against the spread (ATS) and 32-40-2 on game total Over/Unders (O/U). Since Cunningham exited the Pistons 130-117 win over the Wizards on March 17, the Pistons are 5-1 ATS and 2-4 O/U. This year, the Pistons are 11-2 straight up as an underdog.

The Thunder are 35-40 ATS on the season and 39-36 O/U. The Thunder just had a 12-game win streak snapped by the Celtics last Wednesday, but now looks to extend a new win streak to three games tonight, after defeating the Bulls and Knicks at home on Friday and Sunday.

Detroit Pistons

I’m going to keep harping on the fact that the Pistons are seventh in NBA championship odds (+2500), despite leading the Eastern Conference. They are getting the Cavaliers treatment from last year, or those late 2010s Jazz teams. I would be all over Pistons ATS tonight without Cade, if it weren’t for the injuries and questions surrounding the status of the supporting cast. 

All-Star center Jalen Duren (19.3 PPG, 10.6 REB), veteran forward Tobias Harris (13.4 PPG, 5.2 REB), and Duncan Robinson (40.4% from three) are listed as doubtful to play tonight in Oklahoma City. The fifth and final starter, Ausar Thompson (10 PPG, 5.7 REB, 2 STL), the team’s best defender, is also listed as questionable. 

I really want to take the Pistons in this spot, but I can’t back a team of backups against the deepest team in basketball, looking to keep its grip on the West with the Spurs playing the lowly Bulls tonight. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder have zero injury concerns, outside of rookie Thomas Sorber, who has been out for the year since before the season began. This game is the third of a five-game homestand for the Thunder, and tonight they have a chance to be the first team to reach 60 wins this year, in their final game of March. 

The Thunder own the league’s top defence, and the Pistons own the league’s second-best. When the Pistons beat the Thunder in their one prior meeting on February 25, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was absent with injury, and the Pistons had a completely healthy lineup, as Cunningham and Duren combined for 58 points. 

The Pistons are 29th in three-point rate and the number of points coming from beyond the arc, and you have to hit triples to have a chance to go up against a healthy Thunder team that takes away the paint better than anyone. 

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Pistons vs. Thunder?

My best advice is to leave the spread alone here. If Duren, Harris, Thompson, and Robinson play, then definitely take the Pistons. But with most of their status uncertain or in doubt, I truly don’t think the spread is wise to play on either side, because we have no idea what the Pistons will look like tonight.

What I do love is the Under. 219.5 points is a lot in a game between the best defences, especially with some star players out. The one thing we know is that defensive intensity will be intact. 

Pistons vs Thunder Best Bet: Under 219.5 Total Points (-110)

PISTONS

Away

98

THUNDER

Home

109

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