Pistons vs Pelicans

Cade Cunningham leads a 31-10 Pistons team riding a three-game win streak and sitting atop the East into New Orleans, where the 10-35 Pelicans have lost two straight and continue to slide toward the West’s basement at the midway point of the season. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons)) Detroit is relatively healthy outside of Caris LeVert’s illness-related questionable tag, while New Orleans remains without key rotation pieces Herbert Jones, Jose Alvarado and Dejounte Murray, stripping away much of their perimeter defense and secondary playmaking around Zion Williamson. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/injuries/_/name/det/detroit-pistons)) With Cunningham running the offense at a 25+ PPG, near-10 assist pace and Jalen Duren finishing efficiently inside, the Pistons’ balanced attack and top-of-conference urgency for the No. 1 seed should overwhelm a Pelicans group that’s struggled to defend and close games even when Zion is scoring efficiently. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons)) The price on Detroit is steep and limits the value, but given the gulf in form, health and stakes, Pistons -450 on the moneyline earns a B- grade. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 21/01/2026 09:50

Zion Williamson’s Pelicans are averaging about 115 points per game, while Cunningham’s Pistons sit around 117, putting their combined season scoring slightly below the 233.5 total before factoring in Detroit’s stronger defense and New Orleans’ shaky half-court execution. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons)) With Herb Jones sidelined and multiple Pelicans ball-handlers still out, New Orleans leans heavily on Zion and Trey Murphy III for offense, which can bog down when Detroit loads up in the paint behind Duren and slows the pace after made baskets. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/injuries/_/name/no/new-orleans-pelicans)) At the same time, a potential Pistons blowout—driven by their current three-game surge and top-seed motivation—raises the chance of a lower-intensity fourth quarter and bench-heavy minutes that drag the final total under an already inflated number. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons)) Because both teams’ raw scoring averages sit close to the line and late defensive letdowns are always in play, Under 233.5 at -110 gets a cautious C+ grade for modest edge but limited cushion. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 21/01/2026 09:50

Detroit’s recent dominance—three straight wins and the best record in the East—contrasts sharply with a Pelicans team that’s dropped two in a row, owns one of the league’s worst records and has struggled badly at home, making a double-digit road spread more palatable than it first appears. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons)) New Orleans is again without defensive ace Herb Jones and key guards like Alvarado and Murray, leaving Zion and Murphy to shoulder huge offensive loads while defending a deep Pistons rotation featuring Cunningham, Duren and multiple versatile wings who can keep constant pressure on both ends. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/injuries/_/name/no/new-orleans-pelicans)) With Detroit chasing conference control at the halfway mark and owning clear advantages in creation, rim pressure and overall cohesion, a focused outing should be enough to clear -9.5 more often than not, though backdoor risk in garbage time tempers confidence slightly and keeps this at a solid B grade rather than higher. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 21/01/2026 09:50