Hornets vs Pistons

Cade Cunningham steering a 21-6 Pistons group that sits atop the East and owns a top-tier offense at home is a very different proposition from a 9-18 Hornets side that has only recently stabilized, even with LaMelo Ball back dropping 28 points and 13 assists in his return. Charlotte’s backcourt is still dinged up with Collin Sexton doubtful and Pat Connaughton questionable, while Detroit’s main concerns are secondary wings, leaving Cunningham, Jalen Duren and the core that just pushed Dallas to OT fully capable of exploiting the Hornets’ bottom-tier defense. Cunningham has already piled up near triple-double lines against Charlotte in recent seasons, and Duren’s history of dominating the glass in this matchup further tilts things toward a straightforward home win. At -550 the value is thin, but with Detroit’s talent edge, current level, and matchup advantages, the Pistons moneyline is a solid, lower-upside Grade B play. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/12/2025 09:44

Charlotte’s offense with LaMelo Ball back — fresh off a 133-point, 24-three outing against Atlanta — combined with the Hornets’ 114–115 offensive rating and leaky defense around 118 points per 100 possessions sets the stage for points when they face a Detroit team averaging roughly 119 per night with a 117.6 offensive rating. The Hornets’ thin perimeter depth (Sexton likely out, Connaughton iffy) makes it hard to slow Cunningham-Duren actions and the Pistons’ elite offensive rebounding, while Detroit’s defense, though strong, isn’t so suffocating that it should fully cool a Ball–Miles Bridges–Brandon Miller trio that’s been scorching the last week. With both offenses comfortable pushing games into the 230s and plenty of three-point volume plus second-chance opportunities on the table, I lean to Over 233.5 (-110), but the number is high enough and blowout risk real enough that it stays a Grade B- rather than something higher. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/12/2025 09:44

The Hornets have looked far more dangerous of late with LaMelo reinserted next to Bridges and Miller, delivering two wins in their last three and showing they can hang offensively even when shorthanded, which matters catching a big +10.5 on the road. Detroit has been one of the league’s best home teams and owns a strong net rating, but it’s coming off an emotional OT loss in Dallas, and with Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson both on the injury report plus past Pistons–Hornets meetings (like February’s 112–102 Detroit win) clustering near this margin, there’s a clear path to a backdoor cover if benches take over late. Given Charlotte’s suspect defense but newly revived shot creation and three-point variance, I’ll side with Charlotte Hornets +10.5 (-110), expecting Detroit to control the game yet leaving enough room for a competitive scoreboard and a Grade B- ticket against the spread. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/12/2025 09:44