Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction, Preview, Odds, Betting Trends, Team News, Schedule, Injury Report, Friday, 1st March 2024

Cleveland Cavaliers will hope to continue their dominance over the Detroit Pistons after the Cleveland team have won the last 9 games against their Division rivals. The Cavaliers have also won all 3 games between them this season; Can the Cavs get a 4th win in this game?

The Cavaliers are favourites with an implied probability of 81.3% to win this one at 1.23 odds, while the Pistons are available at 4.25 odds. The point spread is +/-9.0 points and the total points line is at 221.5.

The Detroit Pistons will battle the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit for a Central Division clash. For more NBA picks from Agbeniga Ayobami and other basketball experts, visit our Expert Insights section.

Our Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers prediction is for the Pistons to cover the 9.0-point spread. 

In this article:

• Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction
• Game Info
• Detroit Pistons Injury Report, Team News, Schedule
• Cleveland Cavaliers Injury Report, Team News, Schedule
• Betting Trends
• Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers H2H
• Safer Gambling

Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction

• Selections: Pistons +9.0
• Odds: 1.90
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stake: 6/10

While the Cleveland Cavaliers have dominated recent matchups against the Detroit Pistons, winning their last eight meetings, the Pistons have shown resilience, particularly when playing at home. Although the Pistons may not secure a victory against the Cavaliers, they have a strong chance of covering the spread, given their recent performance.

Notably, the Cavaliers have struggled to cover the spread in their last seven games, while the Pistons have covered the spread in 15 of their last 20 games. In their previous three meetings this season, the Cavaliers won each game, the Pistons on the other hand managed to cover the spread each time.

Game Info

• Date: Saturday, March 2nd, 2024
• Time: 01:00 (CET)
• Arena: Little Caesars Arena.
• Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Detroit Pistons Injury Report, Team News and Schedule

The Detroit Pistons bounced back from a tough loss with a solid victory against their Central Division rival, the Chicago Bulls, prevailing 105-95. Despite the emotional residue of a controversial call in their previous game, the Pistons were focused and ended up halting a six-game losing streak.

Cade Cunningham led the charge with 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Off the bench, Simone Fontecchio provided a significant spark, sinking five 3-pointers on his way to 17 points, along with 3 rebounds and 1 assist. Despite dealing with ankle soreness, Jaden Ivey managed to chip in with 15 points and 5 assists. Jalen Duren gave a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, accompanied by 5 assists. Ausar Thompson added 13 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, while Isaiah Stewart made a strong return from suspension and injury layoff, tallying 11 points, 9 rebounds, and one block.

Meanwhile, the Pistons bid farewell to veteran centre Mike Muscala, who finalised a contract buyout, paving the way for him to join a playoff-bound team. Muscala, one of the few experienced players on the roster, exits after appearing in just 13 games, averaging four points and two rebounds in 13 minutes per game. The youth movement for the Pistons appears to be in full swing, with Muscala’s departure following the trades of Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks. However, the team continues to deal with injuries, with Marcus Sasser sidelined due to a knee injury.

The Detroit Pistons are 29-28-1 against the spread this season (50.9% ATS). They are 5-3-0 ATS after a win and have a 7-5-1 record against the spread in Division games. They currently average 112.7 points per game, ranking 22nd in the league, with shooting percentages of 47.4% from the field and 36.4% from beyond the arc. They also boast a 77.3% free-throw shooting percentage.

They grab 43.6 rebounds per game, ranking 15th in the NBA, and record 26.4 assists per game, placing them 16th in the league. Defensively, the Pistons force an average of 15.5 turnovers per game and draw 21.8 fouls. However, they concede 121.3 points per game, ranking 27th in the league in points allowed, surrendering an opponent field goal percentage of 49.2%, 37.6% from beyond the arc and allowing 42.6 rebounds per game.

Next 5 Fixtures

• March 4th vs Magic
• March 6th vs Heat
• March 8th vs Nets
• March 10th vs Mavericks
• March 12th vs Hornets

Cleveland Cavaliers Injury Report, Team News and Schedule

The Cleveland Cavaliers continue their strong season with a hard-fought win over the Mavericks, securing their second consecutive victory with a narrow 121-119 triumph. Donovan Mitchell led the charge for the Cavaliers with a team-high 31 points. He was well-supported by Max Strus, who contributed 21 points, and Jarrett Allen, who added 19 points and 9 rebounds. With this win, the Cavaliers remain the second seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

Despite their recent success, the Cavaliers are dealing with the absence of Ty Jerome, who remains sidelined indefinitely following surgery on his right ankle. However, the team has signed Sharife Cooper to a 10-day contract. Cooper joins the Cavaliers after an impressive stint with the Cleveland Charge, where he has been averaging 18.5 points, 7.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game in 19 appearances. His addition provides valuable depth to the Cavaliers’ lineup as they continue their push towards the playoffs.

The Cavaliers are 28-27-2 ATS, with a 14-12-1 record against the spread as an away team, and they have a 4-7-1 record on Division games. They currently average 114.6 points per game, ranking 15th in the league, while shooting 48.4% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the arc. They also boast a 76.9% free-throw shooting percentage. They grab 44.8 rebounds per game, ranking 7th in the NBA, and record 27.5 assists per game, placing them 10th in the league.

Defensively, the Cavaliers force an average of 13.5 turnovers per game and draw 18.3 fouls. However, they surrendered an opponent field goal percentage of 45.7% and allowed 42.0 rebounds per game. They allow opponents to shoot 36.1% from beyond the arc and concede 109.3 points per game, ranking 2nd in the league in points allowed.

Donovan Mitchell is the key player on the Cavs’ injury list, he is questionable with right knee soreness. Ty Jerome is Out due to a right ankle injury.

Next 5 Fixtures

• March 4th vs Knicks
• March 6th vs Celtics
• March 7th vs Hawks
• March 9th vs Timberwolves
• March 11th vs Nets

Betting Trends

• The Pistons are 29-28-1 ATS.
• The Cavaliers are 28-27-2 ATS.
• The Pistons are 7-5-1 ATS in Division Games.
• The Pistons are 5-3-0 ATS after a win.
• The Cavaliers are 4-7-1 ATS in Division Games.
• The Cavaliers have covered 53.8% as an away team.

Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers H2H

The Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers have a substantial history in the regular season, having faced off 236 times. The Pistons have the upper hand historically, with 132 victories compared to the Cavaliers’ 104.

One notable streak in their matchups occurred from January 5, 2002, to November 28, 2003, during which the Pistons enjoyed an eight-game winning streak against the Cavaliers. However, recent history has favoured the Cavaliers, who have won the last nine games against the Pistons—both NBA and other competitions.

In the 2023-24 season, the Pistons have faced the Cavaliers three times and lost each game. Their most recent matchup on January 31, 2024, ended in a 121-128 loss for the Pistons on the road against the Cavaliers.

Donovan Mitchell has been a key player in these matchups, averaging 26.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 13 games against the Pistons throughout his career. His performance will likely be crucial in the upcoming clash between the two teams.

SAFER GAMBLING

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