When the Los Angeles Clippers lost five games in a row on the heels of the James Harden trade, it seemed laughable to call them a contender in the NBA odds — but here they are in the race for the West’s No. 1 seed, with a chance to pad their record against the Detroit Pistons tonight.
The Clippers have gone 23-5 since December 1, and they brushed off the Wizards on Wednesday behind 31 points from Kawhi Leonard, moving above .500 on the road in the process.
January was Detroit’s best month of the season. That’s not saying much, but the Pistons won three games to inch their record up to 6-41. The Pistons recently put on a solid showing in the 128-121 midweek loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers but were sunk by Donovan Mitchell’s 45-point explosion.
My free NBA picks and predictions for Clippers vs. Pistons picks dig into the trends and storylines ahead of tonight’s matchup.
Clippers vs Pistons odds
Clippers vs Pistons predictions
The Los Angeles Clippers surely have fingers and toes crossed that this version of Kawhi Leonard can get to the playoffs healthy. He’s making vintage Kawhi buckets and dialing up defensive highlights, but he’s quietly amped up his rebounding too during L.A.’s impressive run.
Leonard has been a force on the boards in the last few weeks. He’s had at least seven rebounds in each of his past five contests, including nine boards against the Wizards last time out, and this is the prop that stands out to me.
The visitors are going to need Kawhi to put in work in the paint against a physical Detroit Pistons team, and with the Pistons shooting less than 36% from deep, there should be plenty of misses up for grabs.
Leonard’s scoring is still key, but there are plenty of mouths to feed in this L.A. offense and he may not have to hit top gear if this turns into a blowout. Instead, I’m going with the Over on the Kawhi rebounds prop and expecting 'The Claw' to leave his mark on the glass.
My best bet: Kawhi Leonard Over 6.5 rebounds (-115 at PROLINE+)
Clippers vs Pistons same-game parlay
Clippers -11.5
Under 240.5
With the Clippers surging and Paul George returning after sitting out in midweek to rest a groin injury, I feel good about laying the points and riding with the visitors to cover the 11.5-point spread.
After all, L.A. has covered in six of its last seven games. Though this is the largest spread of that stretch, I expect Ty Lue to have his players focused. Every win is critical in a tight race at the top of the Western Conference standings, and I see the visitors pulling away in the second half.
I’m also jumping on the Under. It’s hit in L.A.’s last four games and is also 4-1 in Detroit’s past five outings. Plus, the first-half Under has been a winner in 44 of the Pistons’ last 76 games.
The Clippers’ defense is a big factor for me in staying away from the Over. They’ve allowed less than 110 points in three of their last four contests, with the Celtics’ high-powered offense managing just 96 points last weekend.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Clippers vs Pistons spread and Over/Under analysis
The Pistons made a mockery of a double-digit spread by winning outright against Oklahoma City last weekend, but that’s not enough to dissuade the sportsbooks from attaching another big line here.
I still like L.A. in this spot, as they're 9-1 overall in the last 10 matchups against Detroit. Coming off a statement win over Boston, L.A. looks like a legit title contender.
Sure, Detroit has won three of its past 10 games, but two came against the Wizards and Hornets. Though the hosts are more cohesive with Cade Cunningham back into his stride, there will be nothing easy against the Clippers’ perimeter ballhawks.
As I’ve mentioned above, the trends for both teams scream Under for tonight’s clash, just adding to the sense that 240.5 is a big number, with the visitors capable of cranking their defense up to another level if the game gets tight.
The scoring tends to amp up in the third quarter with this Clippers team — the third-quarter game total Over has cashed in for 50 of their last 79 games — but it would still be a surprise if this turns into a shootout at Little Caesars Arena.
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Clippers vs Pistons betting trend to know
With three elite scorers, the Clippers are primed to make a fast start, and they’ve hit the first-half moneyline in 26 of their past 38 road games. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Pistons.
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Clippers vs Pistons game info
| Location: | Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI |
| Date: | Friday, February 2, 2024 |
| Tip-off: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | BSDET, BSSC |
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