Pistons Heating Up
The New Jersey Nets seem to have recovered from a demoralizing losing streak. Now, however, they’ll need to figure out a way to win in Detroit.
The Nets will be trying to end their road woes against the Pistons when the teams square off on Sunday.
Oddsmakers from Bodog have made Detroit -8 point spread favorites (NBA Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 183 total points (Matchup). Our public betting information shows that 81% of bets for this game have been placed on Detroit -8 (View NBA Bet Percentages).
The Nets (8-8) have won four of their last five since a six-game losing streak, and Saturday’s 94-92 overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers moved them back to .500. New Jersey averaged just 80.7 points during their losing streak, but are scoring 110.6 per contest in their last five games.
However, the Nets could have a hard time keeping their momentum going in Detroit, where they have won just six of their last 44 road games since the start of the 1985-86 season. Last season, New Jersey couldn’t beat the Pistons (10-5) anywhere, dropping all four of its games against them.
Still, New Jersey has won its last three road games and is 4-2 away from home. Detroit is 5-1 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
On Saturday, Vince Carter came off the bench and scored 24 points to help the Nets rally from a 16-point halftime deficit and end a five-game home losing streak. Carter started in Tuesday’s 110-103 loss to Memphis, but has been a reserve for New Jersey in four of his last five games.
"It’s not a demotion,” coach Lawrence Frank said before Saturday’s game. "We won three games with him coming off the bench. We’ve been lacking points off the bench. Coming off the bench, he can be a little fresher, be more of a hub and a focal point and carry more of an offensive burden. It’s a game-by-game deal.”
Carter didn’t seem to mind that Malik Allen started in his place against the Sixers.
"They just wanted to go for a different look,” he said. "It didn’t matter. When I got out there, I just needed to give us something, to be a spark.”
Jason Kidd added a season high-tying 19 points and has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 11 games.
The Pistons have won four of their last five games, including Saturday’s easy 117-91 win over Milwaukee. Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points for Detroit, which played its reserves for most of the fourth quarter.
Detroit coach Flip Saunders is pleased with how his team has been playing lately.
"Right now, we’re operating on all cylinders,” he said. "The last two weeks we’ve been playing like we did tonight.”
Chauncey Billups added 18 points and nine assists, Rasheed Wallace had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and reserve Jason Maxiell scored 13 points for the Pistons, who were coming off a 109-74 rout of Cleveland. They had scored in triple digits in just four games before their last two.
"To our credit, we jumped on them,” Saunders said. "We tried not to let them get going, and just limit their touches and pressure them a little bit.”
By: Marc Young – theSpread.com – Email Us
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