The Detroit Pistons should stay atop the Eastern Conference despite Cade Cunningham’s absence, giving them the best chance of navigating his hopeful and eventual return. Winning the obvious games is paramount to that task, like tonight against the tanking New Orleans Pelicans.
My Pelicans vs. Pistons predictions and these NBA picks focus on Cunningham’s unexpected replacement on Thursday, March 26.
Pelicans vs Pistons prediction
Pelicans vs Pistons best bet: Daniss Jenkins Over 17.5 points (-115)
You may be forgiven for not knowing who Daniss Jenkins is. In the month following the All-Star Break, the second-year point guard out of St. John’s — who began his collegiate career at Pacific — averaged just 18.8 minutes and 5.8 points per game.
He was a reserve, at best.
But when Cade Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung, the Detroit Pistons needed someone to take on a greater workload, and that someone has been Jenkins. In the four games since Cunningham’s injury, Jenkins has averaged 38.9 minutes and 20 points.
Perhaps most notable, Jenkins is playing 8.5 morem minutes per game than anyone else in the Detroit rotation. The Pistons never planned for a life without Cunningham running the offense; they are desperate for ball-handling.
Oddsmakers have largely adjusted, but not enough to reflect Jenkins’s increased responsibilities. In his four starts, he has cleared this prop in the last three games. Expect more of that scoring from Jenkins tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans, simply because Detroit has no choice but to keep the ball in his hands these days.
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Pelicans vs Pistons same-game parlay
While Jenkins has cleared this assists prop in three straight games, two of those were by the hook, and the third featured 10 assists in a game that went into overtime. Given the Pelicans’ happiness to lose games, a comfortable Detroit win would likely feature fewer assists from Jenkins.
Pelicans vs Pistons SGP
- Daniss Jenkins Over 17.5 points
- Daniss Jenkins Under 7.5 assists
- Pistons -4
Our "from downtown" SGP: Jenkins but not from deep
Counterintuitive same-game parlays are such a joy. The math refuses to recognize that Jenkins could score 20 points while hitting only one 3-pointer. He is not a great shooter, just 36.7% from deep this season.
In fact, Jenkins has cleared this point prop while hitting only one 3-pointer in two of his last three games.
Pelicans vs Pistons SGP
- Daniss Jenkins Over 17.5 points
- Daniss Jenkins Under 7.5 assists
- Daniss Jenkins Under 1.5 threes
Pelicans vs Pistons odds
- Spread: Pelicans +4 | Pistons -4
- Moneyline: Pelicans +155 | Pistons -185
- Over/Under: Over 226.5 | Under 226.5
Pelicans vs Pistons betting trend to know
Detroit has gone 3-1 against the spread since Cunningham’s injury, and the sole ATS loss came in overtime as a two-point favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Pistons.
How to watch Pelicans vs Pistons
| Location | Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI |
| Date | Thursday, March 26, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Pelicans+, Detroit SportsNet |
Pelicans vs Pistons latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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