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Detroit’s bench has proven it can hold its own against playoff-bound teams. On Tuesday night, the Pistons’ reserves should get plenty of work against a club headed for the draft lottery.
With coach Flip Saunders giving his starters plenty of rest before the playoffs, the Pistons look to win their third straight when they host the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Detroit -7 point spread favorites (NBA Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 188.5 total points (Matchup). Our public betting information shows that 80% of bets for this game have been placed on Detroit -7 (View NBA Bet Percentages). Bet this game.
Detroit (57-23) has locked up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and has been able to give its starters a break over the last four games. With two contests left before the postseason, the Pistons aren’t expected to change that strategy.
The approach has hardly hurt, as Detroit’s reserves outscored Toronto’s 48-18 in a 91-84 win Sunday. The Pistons pulled away down the stretch even though all five of its starters were on the bench, giving Detroit the victory over a Raptors team trying to lock up sixth place in the East.
On Friday night, Detroit got a game-high 28 points from top reserve Jason Maxiell in a 102-74 win over Washington, which is also battling for playoff position.
None of the Pistons’ starters played more than 25 minutes against Toronto, and all of them were on the bench for the final 11 minutes.
"Not just offensively, but with the energy they bring defensively. They get how we want to play against teams," Saunders said of his reserves.
The Pistons finished the game with a lineup of Jarvis Hayes, Amir Johnson, Maxiell and rookies Arron Afflalo and Rodney Stuckey, who average 22.8 years of age.
"They would definitely be a playoff team," Detroit starting point guard Chauncey Billups said. "Look what they are doing with 20-something minutes a night, and imagine what they could do with 34 or 35. They’ve beaten playoff teams the last two games – teams that are playing hard and have their starters in late."
Detroit’s bench is averaging 51.3 points in four games since the Pistons clinched the second seed April 6 – best in the NBA in that span.
Minnesota (21-59) is still playing hard down the stretch even though it has the second-worst record in the West, 2 1/2 games better than Seattle.
The Timberwolves have won two straight for just the fifth time this season. On Saturday, Kirk Snyder had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Al Jefferson added 21 points and 10 boards to lead Minnesota to a 114-105 win over Memphis.
The Wolves won 102-101 at Orlando on Friday night.
"We have a couple of games left, and we’re young," Snyder said. "Guys are going to probably pick up a basketball as soon as we stop playing anyway, so leave it all out there. Go with reckless abandonment and see what you can get out of it. See if you can win some games."
A victory Tuesday would give Minnesota three straight road wins for the second time this season.
The Wolves held the Pistons to 40.0 percent shooting from the field April 1, but lost 94-90. Jefferson had 26 points and seven rebounds, but Minnesota couldn’t overcome Stuckey’s 27 points off the bench.
By: Marc Young – theSpread.com – Email Us
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