The Detroit Pistons visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night at the Smoothie King Center. Detroit enters the matchup in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with a 37-31 record, while New Orleans sits 14th in the Western Conference at 18-50. Both teams are trying to end recent struggles.
Detroit has dropped four of its last six games after a strong 10-1 stretch boosted their playoff hopes. The Pelicans have lost six of their last seven games and continue to deal with injury issues. Detroit is looking to stay in position for a top-six playoff seed, while New Orleans continues to develop its young players in a tough season.
Detroit Pistons Preview – Controlling Emotions Key to Success
The Pistons have shown improvement since early February but have run into trouble in recent games. In their latest loss to Oklahoma City, Detroit’s frustrations boiled over as they received five technical fouls, including two on leading scorer Cade Cunningham. Cunningham finished with just 11 points in 29 minutes before being ejected.
Despite those struggles, Detroit remains competitive. Tobias Harris scored 18 points in their recent loss, while Jalen Duren added eight points and five rebounds. The Pistons need Cunningham to stay composed and lead the offense to avoid costly mistakes.
Defensively, Detroit has allowed fewer than 110 points in four of its last six games. Facing a Pelicans team that struggles to score consistently, Detroit’s defense could be the key to a road win.
New Orleans Pelicans Preview – Finding Scoring Depth
New Orleans has struggled to find consistency all season, with injuries playing a major role. Zion Williamson missed their last game for personal reasons, and his status for Monday is uncertain. The Pelicans have relied heavily on CJ McCollum, who scored 26 points in their latest loss to San Antonio.
Trey Murphy III continues to step up, scoring 20 points in that game, while rookie Karlo Matkovic posted his third double-double in 10 games. Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown, both recent additions, have provided scoring depth, but the Pelicans’ bench has struggled. Against the Spurs, New Orleans’ reserves were outscored 55-24.
With Williamson’s status unclear, the Pelicans will need contributions from McCollum, Murphy, and role players like Olynyk to keep pace with Detroit’s offense.
Betting Prediction
Detroit enters this matchup as a slight road favorite, and their defense should be the difference. New Orleans’ inconsistency combined with turnover issues makes it hard to trust the Pelicans. If Zion Williamson is unavailable, their scoring options shrink even more.
The Pistons’ recent frustrations may help them stay focused in this spot. Expect Detroit’s defense to dictate the pace, and for Cunningham to bounce back after his ejection.
Pick: Pistons -4 / Under 217.5
Trends to Watch
- Detroit: The Pistons have hit the 1Q Moneyline in 25 of their last 38 away games.
- Detroit: The Pistons have hit the 3Q Moneyline in 30 of their last 42 games.
- New Orleans: The Pelicans have hit the 1H Game Total Over in 41 of their last 63 games.
- New Orleans: The Pelicans have covered the 4Q Spread in 35 of their last 56 games.
- Head-to-Head: New Orleans won the last meeting 114-101 on March 24, 2024.
What’s Next
Detroit continues their three-game road trip after this matchup, while New Orleans looks to salvage wins during a challenging stretch. The Pistons are motivated to secure a playoff spot, while the Pelicans are hoping to finish the season on a positive note.
