Picks and Predictions for the Pistons vs. Hornets 2023

The Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons are both interested in top NBA prospect Victor Wembanyama. Charlotte, on the other hand, is on a roll after winning four straight games. In our NBA betting predictions, we explain why that streak will continue against the Pistons.

The Pistons are officially tanking, and they have injury concerns heading into Monday’s game against the Hornets.

The search for Victor Wembanyama has begun. After a four-game losing streak, Detroit now has the third-best lottery odds, while the Hornets’ four-game winning streak gives them a 12.5% chance of getting the first overall pick.

Will Charlotte be able to wrest victory from the jaws of defeat? Will the Hornets persist in their quest for a miraculous spot in the play-in tournament?

Let’s break it down with our free NBA betting pick and predictions for Pistons vs. Hornets.

Picks and predictions for the Pistons vs. Hornets game

There’s a slim chance that neither of these teams cares about winning on Monday. The Charlotte Hornets are eight games out of the final Eastern Conference play-in spot, while the Detroit Pistons have only won 15 games this season and are in last place.

It’s not surprising that the Pistons could be missing a slew of key players. Both Isaiah Stewart and Bojan Bogdanovic are listed as questionable, which would be devastating for a team already missing Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, and Nerlens Noel.

Charlotte might not get PJ Washington’s assistance here, but that shouldn’t matter. Since LaMelo Ball’s return, the Hornets have become a much more serious franchise, ranking 14th in defensive efficiency over the last ten games. Despite its inability to score, Charlotte has a plethora of offensive talent.

The Hornets have won four straight games, including three as underdogs. While Ball’s return months ago gave this team a boost, Gordon Hayward’s return has been even more significant. His ability to cut and score inside could propel this team to victory in a sloppy matchup. Detroit is without its best interior defender, and Hayward is coming off a 21-point performance, while rookie Mark Williams had 18 points and 20 rebounds.

The prospect of facing a team that can score at will on the inside without Stewart could be disastrous. If the game gets away from Detroit, it could be a rout.

Analysis of the Pistons vs. Hornets spread

The Hornets have covered three of their last four wins, all while being underdogs by at least 5.5 points. This will be a different kind of challenge, as the Hornets haven’t been 5.5-point favorites since 2022-23.

This season, Charlotte is 4-2 against the spread when laying two or more points. That’s pretty promising given the team’s 6-7 ATS record as a favorite. Meanwhile, as a road underdog, Detroit is 15-14-2 ATS.

Given the razor-thin margins, betting with the trends could prove to be a fool’s errand. Perhaps this is why, according to DraftKings, 40% of the tickets here are on Detroit.

Only 25% of the money has been wagered on the underdogs, while 75% has been wagered on the Hornets. That would explain why this line has shifted two points away from 5.5.

Over/Under prediction for the Pistons vs. Hornets game

I’m going with the Under here. If Stewart sits, the Hornets may be able to score at will inside. However, over the last ten games, these teams have ranked 14th and 15th in defensive efficiency, respectively.

The Hornets are first in pace over the last ten games with a rating of 103.5, which complicates matters. That’s a lot of points, but Detroit, which finished 24th in the NBA during the same time period, might be able to slow things down a little.

The Under has a commanding 74% of the tickets, but only 57% of the handle. That gives me pause, which is why the Under is a lean rather than a play.