NBA Predictions: Will Heat hold off Drummond, Pistons? 1/3/18

Pistons vs. Heat Pick

Are the Miami Heat going to protect their home court and defeat the Detroit Pistons tonight at 7:30PM ET?

Who Oddsmakers Like: According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Heat are listed as a 2.5-point favorite on the spread line. The total sits at 197 points. The spread opened as a pick'em, while the total has gone up from 196 points.

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Who the Public Likes: As of Wednesday afternoon, 59 percent of the betting public is on the Pistons.

Injury Report: Pistons guard Avery Bradley is probable tonight after missing time with a groin injury. Stanley Johnson is expected to be out with a strained hip. Reggie Jackson has a sprained ankle and will be out until mid-February. Jon Leuer also has a sprained ankle and is targeting a mid-January return. For the Heat, James Johnson is questionable with right ankle bursitis. Dion Waiters will miss his fifth straight game with an ankle injury. Justise Winslow is out indefinitely with a knee strain.

Who the Trends Like: Detroit is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings. The over is 4-1 in the last five meetings overall, but the under is 19-9-1 in the last 29 meetings in Miami.

Who We Like: Playing against pace down teams falls right into what Detroit loves to do. Play strong defense, rebound well and score enough to get it done. Injuries have taken a toll on the Pistons, but Bradley is expected to return tonight and might be asked to look for his own offense a bit more with Jackson out. The key matchup will be down low as Andre Drummond battles Hassan Whiteside. With Whiteside still returning to form, I expect Drummond to get the better end of that deal. Both teams are beat up, but Miami is missing enough key pieces for Detroit to notch a win tonight as a small underdog.

 

NBA DAILY PREDICTION: DETROIT PISTONS +2.5