NBA odds: Andre Drummond difference for Detroit Pistons against Bulls

According to the NBA odds, the Detroit Pistons are the worst bet in the NBA. But against a depleted Chicago Bulls team on a SEGABABA, take Detroit at home.

The Detroit Pistons are quite simply the worst bet in pro basketball, according to the NBA odds. The Pistons are just 14-24-1 against the spread this season. So a guy’d have to be really out of touch to actually recommend betting on Detroit, right? Or maybe it’s just the right amount of out of touch.

According to information provided courtesy of The Action Network, the Pistons are four-point favorites Saturday night when they host the Chicago Bulls at Little Caesars Arena. And to be perfectly clear, there are additional layers to how Detroit has fared against the Bulls this season.

More from Hoops Habit

Chicago can complete a four-game sweep of the Pistons with a win Saturday night, having won the first three meetings handily (112-106 in Chicago on Nov. 1, 109-89 at Chicago on Nov. 20, 119-107 in Motown on Dec. 21). It would be a complete reversal of last season, when Detroit swept four games from the Bulls.

It’s not that unusual for these two teams to pick up sweeps against each other — it’s happened eight times already this century, with the Pistons doing it in 2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06 and 2018-19. Chicago got sweeps in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.

But there are three X-factors at work that favor the Pistons.

They are rested … and annoyed after blowing a game at home to lowly Cleveland on Thursday.
Chicago is on a home-road SEGABABA after losing to the Pacers at home on Friday.
Andre Drummond will be able to roam fairly freely with Wendell Carter Jr. sidelined for Chicago.

Drummond have been good, but not great, against the Bulls this season, averaging 16.7 points and 17.0 rebounds in 35.2 minutes per game in the first three meetings, but all of those were against Carter … far and away Chicago’s best interior defender. But Drummond against rookie second-round pick Daniel Gafford could get away from the Bulls in a big way.

Chicago is also 0-5-1 ATS in its last six games, all losses straight up. That makes the Pistons’ recent 3-10 ATS run look positively dynastic by comparison. Detroit has also covered six of their last seven at home against the Bulls.

While normally liking to stay away from any team in the bottom five ATS, the Pistons have too many things in their favor not to like them.

Chicago Bulls at Detroit Pistons

TV: NBC Sports Chicago (Bulls), Fox Sports Detroit (Pistons)
Tickets: Little Caesars Arena, 7 p.m. local (7 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Chicago 13-26 (18-20-1 ATS, 9-8-1 road ATS), Detroit 14-25 (14-24-1 ATS, 8-11 home ATS)

Availability report
Chicago: Not required to submit report until 1 p.m. Saturday. In Friday’s 116-105 loss to the Pacers, Chicago was without Wendell Carter Jr. (right ankle sprain), Adam Mokoka (two-way, G League), Otto Porter (left foot fracture) and Max Strus (left knee, ACL surgery).
Detroit: OUT–Jordan Bone (two-way, G League), Blake Griffin (left knee soreness), Reggie Jackson (stress reaction, left lumbar spine), Luke Kennard (bilateral patella tendinitis), Louis King (two-way, G League), Khyri Thomas (right foot surgery); QUESTIONABLE–Markieff Morris (left foot sprain); PROBABLE–Bruce Brown (right thumb sprain).

Here’s a look at the other six games set for Saturday.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets

TV: Fox Sports North (Timberwolves), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Rockets)
Tickets: Toyota Center, 4 p.m. local (5 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Minnesota 15-22 (16-19-2 ATS, 11-8-1 road ATS), Houston 25-12 (18-19 ATS, 9-8 home ATS)

Availability report
Minnesota: OUT–Jake Layman (left toe sprain), Kelan Martin (two-way, G League), Jordan McLaughlin (two-way, G League), Jaylen Nowell (G League); QUESTIONABLE–Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee sprain).
Houston: OUT–Gerald Green (left cuneiform fracture), Nene (left adductor strain), William Howard (two-way, G League); QUESTIONABLE–Clint Capela (right heel contusion).

Notable: The Minnesota Timberwolves have been solid against the number lately, covering in five of their last six games, and they visit the Houston Rockets in a matinee. The Rockets have covered their last three at home, but are coming off a 21-point loss at Oklahoma City on Thursday. Houston blew out the Timberwolves in their first meeting this year.

That game was a 125-105 blowout in Minneapolis on Nov. 16 in which the Rockets were 2½-point underdogs. Both teams have questions in the middle — Karl-Anthony Towns is questionable having missed the last 12 games with a sprained knee, while Clint Capela is questionable with a lingering heel bruise that sat him down for two games late last month.

New Orleans Pelicans at Boston Celtics

TV: Fox Sports New Orleans (Pelicans), NBC Sports Boston (Celtics)
Tickets: TD Garden, 7 p.m. local (7 p.m. Eastern)
Records: New Orleans 14-25 (18-18-2 ATS, 8-9-2 road ATS, Boston 25-11 (20-14-2 ATS, 9-7-1 home ATS)

Availability report
New Orleans: Not required to submit report until 1 p.m. Saturday. In Friday’s 123-111 win at New York, the Pelicans did not have Zylan Cheatham (two-way, G League), Josh Gray (two-way, G League), Jrue Holiday (left elbow tricep strain), Darius Miller (right Achilles surgery), Kenrich Williams (right lower back soreness) or Zion Williamson (right knee scope).
Boston: OUT–Tacko Fall (two-way, G League), Vincent Poirier (right pinkie fracture), Tremont Waters (two-way, G League), Robert Williams (left hip, bone edema).

Notable: The New Orleans Pelicans cruised to a win on the first night of their East Coast back-to-back in New York, but could have some problems after Derrick Favors left the game against the Knicks with a hamstring strain and is doubtful Saturday. The veteran big man doesn’t put up huge numbers, but he’s been important for the Pelicans, who are 10-13 with Favors and 4-12 without.

But while New Orleans is 8-0-1 ATS in its last nine games, the Boston Celtics have gone just 1-4 ATS in their last five contests and have lost three in a row straight up. The Celtics have also covered just once in their last five games at home. Boston is 2-1 straight up and ATS against the Pelicans in their last three meetings, but they have not played since December 2018.

Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder

TV: Spectrum SportsNet (Lakers), Fox Sports Oklahoma (Thunder)
Tickets: Chesapeake Energy Arena, 7 p.m. local (8 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Los Angeles 31-7 (20-16-1 ATS, 10-8 road ATS), Oklahoma City 22-16 (26-12 ATS, 12-7 home ATS)

Availability report
Los Angeles: Not required to submit report until 2 p.m. Saturday. In Friday’s 129-114 win at Dallas, the Lakers did not have Devontae Cacok (two-way, G League), DeMarcus Cousins (right knee rehabilitation), Anthony Davis (gluteus maximus contusion) or Talen Horton-Tucker (G League).
Oklahoma City: OUT–Luguentz Dort (two-way, G League), Kevin Hervey (two-way, G League), Nerlens Noel (left ankle sprain), Andre Roberson (left knee injury recovery).

Notable: The Los Angeles Lakers will be the next in line against the unlikely juggernaut that is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have gone 8-0 ATS in their last eight games and are 7-1 straight up over that span. These teams have met twice already this season, with the Thunder covering both in straight-up losses to Los Angeles.

The Lakers didn’t have Anthony Davis for the win at Dallas and are on a SEGABABA for this one, but Oklahoma City is coming off a blowout win over the Rockets in Russell Westbrook‘s first visit back in OKC and may be a bit flat coming down from that emotional peak. The Lakers are only 4-5-1 ATS in their last 10, but have covered two of three on the road during that span.

Philadelphia 76ers at Dallas Mavericks

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia (76ers), Fox Sports Southwest-Dallas (Mavericks)
Tickets: American Airlines Center, 7:30 p.m. local (8:30 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Philadelphia 25-14 (18-20-1 ATS, 8-11 road ATS), Dallas 23-15 (19-18-1 ATS, 7-13-1 home ATS)

Availability report
Philadelphia: OUT–Joel Embiid (left hand, torn radial collateral ligament), Marial Shayok (two-way, G League), Zhaire Smith (G League).
Dallas: Not required to submit report until 2 p.m. Saturday. In Friday’s 129-114 loss to the Lakers, Dallas was without Ryan Broekhoff (left fibula fracture), Kristaps Porzingis (right knee soreness), Josh Reaves (two-way, G League) and Isaiah Roby (G League).

Notable: A team that can’t seem to win on the road against a team that can’t win at home, so something will have to give when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas is on a SEGABABA and is just 1-4-1 ATS in their last six at home, including a 15-point drubbing Friday from the Lakers.

The 76ers are 2-4 ATS in their last six games and have covered only once in their last four on the road. There could be a revenge factor here, though, as Philadelphia — which has lost just twice at home this season — got handed one of those defeats by the Mavericks on Dec. 20. The Sixers won and covered in their first game since Joel Embiid tore a finger ligament.

Cleveland Cavaliers at Denver Nuggets

TV: Fox Sports Ohio (Cavaliers), Altitude Sports (Nuggets)
Tickets: Pepsi Center, 7 p.m. local (9 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Cleveland 11-27 (16-20-2 ATS, 8-9-1 road ATS), Denver 26-11 (16-18-3 ATS, 7-10-2 home ATS)

Availability report
Cleveland: OUT–Dante Exum (illness), Larry Nance Jr. (left knee soreness), Kevin Porter Jr. (left knee sprain), Levi Randolph (two-way, G League), Dylan Windler (stress reaction, left lower leg).
Denver: OUT–Bol Bol (left foot injury management), PJ Dozier (two-way, G League), Paul Millsap (left knee contusion/sprain), Jarred Vanderbilt (G League).

Notable: The Cleveland Cavaliers have actually been decent on the road lately, covering in three of their last four away from home, while the Denver Nuggets have not been a great bet at home, going 0-2-1 in their last three games at Pepsi Center. This is the first meeting in this inter-conference series this season, the first between the teams in nearly a year.

The Cavaliers are banged up right now, with veteran Larry Nance Jr. and rookie Kevin Porter Jr. battling sore knees and newly acquired Dante Exum is down with an illness. Denver has been very healthy for most of this season, with Paul Millsap missing with a knee injury, but the rest of its rotation available.

Milwaukee Bucks at Portland Trail Blazers

TV: Fox Sports Wisconsin (Bucks), NBC Sports Northwest (Trail Blazers)
Tickets: Moda Center, 7 p.m. local (10 p.m. Eastern)
Records: Milwaukee 34-6 (22-18 ATS, 11-9 road ATS), Portland 16-23 (15-23-1 ATS, 6-10-1 home ATS)

light. more nba. 3 who could pull off a do-it-all All-Star Saturday

Availability report
Milwaukee: Not required to submit report until 4 p.m. Saturday. In Friday’s 127-106 win at Sacramento, the Bucks did not have Dragan Bender (G League), Ersan Ilyasova (right knee soreness), Frank Mason (two-way, G League) or Cameron Reynolds (two-way, G League).
Portland: OUT–Zach Collins (left shoulder dislocation), Rodney Hood (left Achilles tendon rupture), Skal Labissiere (left knee inflammation), Jusuf Nurkic (left leg fracture); QUESTIONABLE–Mario Hezonja (back contusion), Hassan Whiteside (upper respiratory illness).

Notable: The biggest question entering this one — and likely the reason why the spread has opened relatively small in favor of the Milwaukee Bucks — is that Giannis Antetokounmpo was slowed in the Bucks’ blowout win at Sacramento Friday night by his troublesome back, an issue he’s been dealing with for a few weeks now.

Next. Each franchise's best duo. dark

With it being a SEGABABA for Milwaukee, they may opt to rest their reigning MVP against a Portland Trail Blazers team that has won just two of its last nine straight up and is 2-7 ATS over that span. The Bucks are 1-4 ATS over their last five games and did not cover in the first meeting with Portland, winning 137-129 on Nov. 21 while being favored by 14 points.