Star guards are driving this Eastern Conference matchup. The Detroit Pistons will go as far as Cade Cunningham takes them, while Donovan Mitchell is efforting to avoid the postseason reputation that plagues his backcourt partner with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This Cavaliers vs. Pistons same-game parlay and NBA picks put faith in Mitchell in Game 5 on Wednesday, May 13.
Our best Cavaliers vs Pistons SGP for Game 5
SGP leg #1: Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 points (-105)
Donovan Mitchell is not shooting well from distance, a woeful 30.8% from beyond the arc in this series despite taking nearly 10 3-pointers per game. But he knows the Cleveland Cavaliers’ offense depends on him.
So he has cleared this points prop in each of the last three games, taking 23.3 shots per game compared to just 20.0 field-goal attempts per game in the regular season.
Mitchell may not be scoring efficiently, but he is shooting with such volume that this prop should come home for a fourth straight game. I dove further on this pick in my Cavaliers vs. Pistons prediction for Game 5.
SGP leg #2: Donovan Mitchell Under 3.5 assists (-105)
No one on the Cavaliers’ roster is exactly excelling. Credit the Detroit Pistons. They have one of the best defenses in the NBA, perhaps behind only the Thunders’ and the Spurs’. That is, very obviously, rather elite company.
So Donovan Mitchell is not moving the ball much. He has cleared this modest prop just once this series, averaging 2.75 assists per game. As long as Mitchell is shooting as often as he currently is, do not expect his assists to begin piling up.
SGP leg #3: Over 212.5 (-110)
Detroit’s defense is very good. It is not perfect. And given enough time, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden were always going to crack that defense.
They did in Games 3 and 4.
This series may continue to yo-yo, but expect the offenses to begin finding more of a groove as more time passes.
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See our full Cavaliers vs Pistons Game 5 preview
Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Cavaliers vs Pistons predictions for Game 5.
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