The Detroit Pistons play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the East Semifinals at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday night. Here’s a Pistons vs. Cavaliers Prediction. This article will include a Pistons vs. Cavaliers Pick.
Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Preview
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t exactly dominate in the 1st Round, but they are heading into this series with plenty of confidence after taking down the Raptors with a 114-102 home win in Game 7 on Sunday. Donovan Mitchell led the team in scoring with 22 points on nine of 20 shooting; Jarrett Allen tallied 22 points with 19 rebounds and three blocks, while James Harden chipped in with 18 points, six rebounds and three assists. As a team, the Cavaliers shot 45 percent from the field and 11 of 39 from the 3-point line as they traded shots with the Raptors in a tightly contested first half before they caught fire and exploded for 38 points in the third quarter to open up a 22-point lead, which was more than enough to hold off a late rally from the Raptors.
Detroit Pistons Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons looked to be in deep trouble in the 1st Round after falling behind by 3-1 in the series, but they chipped away at the deficit and put the finishing touches on a 116-94 win in Game 7 on Sunday. Cade Cunningham led the team with 32 points and 12 assists on 10 of 18 shooting; Tobias Harris added 30 points with nine rebounds and three steals; Daniss Jenkins provided the spark off the bench with 16 points and five assists, while Jalen Duren chipped in with 15 points and 15 rebounds. As a team, the Pistons shot 51 percent from the field and 16 of 33 from the 3-point line as they took control of the contest early with 40 points in the second quarter, before they clamped down defensively and held the Magic to just 15 points in the third quarter to lead by as many as 25 points at one stage.
Why the Detroit Pistons will win
- The Pistons have won each of their last 12 Game 1s of an Eastern Conference Semifinals series.
- The Cavaliers have lost each of their last eight road games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Cavaliers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last eight road games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The home team has covered the spread in nine of the Cavaliers’ last 10 games.
Why the Cleveland Cavaliers will win
- The Pistons have lost each of their last 16 playoff games against Central Division opponents.
- The Cavaliers have won each of their last 12 playoff games against the Pistons.
- The Pistons have failed to cover the spread in each of their last seven games as home favorites following a home win.
- The Cavaliers have covered the spread in each of their last six games as underdogs against the Pistons.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Pistons’ last six games as home favorites following a home win has gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the Cavaliers’ last four night games has gone OVER the total points line.
Detroit Pistons Player Facts
- Ausar Thompson ranks 1st amongst qualified players for steals per game (2.0) this season.
- Jalen Duren has recorded the most field goal attempts without a three-point attempt (803) of any player in the league this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers Player Facts
- James Harden has recorded 67 games with 4+ assists this season—equal to the most of any player in the league.
- Dean Wade ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for assist:turnover ratio (5.5) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Pistons rank 1st in the league for opponent assists per game this season (23.5).
- The Pistons rank 1st in the league for steals per game this season (10.4).
- The Cavaliers rank 1st in the league for Q4 points per game this season (30.0).
- The Cavaliers rank 1st in the league for H2 points per game this season (61.2).
Pistons vs Cavaliers Prediction
The Cavaliers were good enough to outlast the Raptors in a tight series in the 1st Round, but you have to wonder if they would have survived if not for home-court advantage, as they have yet to win a road game in these playoffs. Meanwhile, the Pistons have already been tested as they had to climb their way out of a 3-1 series hole, but that seemed to wake them up as they only got better from that point onwards.
These teams met four times in the regular season, with each team winning a home game and a road game, so I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this series went the distance. The line is nice and short for the series opener, which sounds about right, so while the Cavaliers are tempting as the underdogs, I feel more confident in what I’ve seen from the Pistons and their elite defense. Give me the Pistons to draw first blood with a narrow win and cover in this spot.