The Detroit Pistons were already on an 11-game losing streak with the worst record in the NBA before finding out that their leading scorer Jerami Grant is out indefinitely with torn thumb ligaments.
Yay!
For those who wanted to see Detroit tank with Cade Cunningham as the focal point of everything, well, good news!
For those who wanted to see the Pistons win another game this year, well, the news is not so great, as there was already a very good chance that Detroit was going to head into the new year on a 20-game losing streak and now it’s even more likely.
They get to jump right into the fire tonight against the Eastern Conference’s best team, the Brooklyn Nets, who might be able to beat this Detroit squad with just Kevin Durant.
Will Detroit rally around their fallen leader and steal a win tonight or will this an inevitable blowout waiting to happen?
Detroit Pistons vs. Brooklyn Nets: Odds, spread, over/under
According to WynnBET, the Pistons are eight point underdogs at home vs. the Nets, which honestly is shockingly low given the circumstances.
Detroit will be without Jerami Grant and the Nets will be without James Harden, who is getting some rest against Detroit. Even without Harden the Nets will be tough for the Pistons, as they still have one of the best players in the world to go with several actual adult NBA players.
The money lines for this one are set at -350 for the Nets and +285 for the Pistons, which again, seems awfully low for a young, bad team missing its best player.
The books might think the Nets could overlook this one and not show up and that the Pistons might play hard without Grant, so if you really like to gamble, take the Pistons to win and get those odds. Even as the Pistons’ #1 Homer, I cannot recommend that, but it’s called gambling for a reason and you never know.
The over under is 212, and given the Pistons still don’t average 100 as a team, the books must think the Nets are going to run things up behind Durant, which seems logical. If the Pistons can keep it close, the score will be lower overall, but if it’s a blowout, expect Brooklyn to pile up the points. Do with that information what you will.
Pistons vs. Nets: Best fantasy bets
The Nets have already beaten the Pistons twice, once without Cade Cunningham and once with. The good news is that Jerami Grant was bad in both games, so the Pistons won’t be losing much.
Cade Cunningham had 17 points in the last meeting and showed no fear going head-to-head with Durant, so he’s really the only solid play for Detroit in this one, as he is going to get a ton of shots with Grant out.
This stretch without Grant is going to allow Cade as many shots as he wants, so if he can get hot, he might drop 40 in one of these games. Will it be tonight against a disinterested Nets team?
I also like Hamidou Diallo as a low-cost play in this one, as he’s been putting up solid overall numbers and should get extended minutes with Grant out.
If you are really, really, really desperate, Trey Lyles is going to get minutes and did have a good game shooting the ball in the last one. If you are considering this play it might be time to call Gambler’s Anonymous and get help.
How to watch
If you really want to watch this, it will be on at 6:00 PM ET on Bally Sports Detroit or you can listen on 950 AM.