We have a matchup between two of the best young PGs in the league, LaMelo Ball and Cade Cunningham, facing off in Charlotte tonight. Both teams are looking for a win as the Hornets have struggled with back-to-back losses against Brooklyn and Cleveland. The Pistons have found a little more success at 7-9 on the year, putting them at 6th in the East! You won’t want to miss this one!
Find the top betting odds across all sportsbooks for Charlotte Vs. Detroit here!
Detroit has found a solid footing after a terrible start, coming out 0-5 to start the year. Since then, they have managed to go just above 500. In a significant part, that’s due to Cade Cunningham taking a leap. He’s averaging 23 points, nearly 9 assists, and 7 rebounds a game on efficient shooting. This was the version of Cade that we had been waiting for. He is the heart and soul of this team, as almost every action moves through him.
Beyond Cade's rise, adding some veteran talent and a new coach, JB Bickerstaff has made a world of difference. This team has a purpose again and playing in a weak Eastern Conference, there is a real chance it could make the playoffs.
The Pistons match up well against Charlotte tonight. They have size to throw at LaMelo and, more importantly, size in the post. Jalen Duren will play a big role against Charlotte tonight, with both Charlottes starting bigs out for the game tonight. They’ll likely throw Grant Williams in at the five tonight, which Duren should be able to go over the top on. We expect to see plenty of Duren Cade pick and roll tonight.
We like Detroit's chances in this matchup. They have the momentum, are healthier, bigger, and playing better. If Cade and Tim Hardaway Jr can slow down LaMelo enough, they should easily take it tonight. That’s a big if, considering just how dominant Ball has been.
For entertainment's sake, Charlotte has been near the top of our league pass rankings. LaMelo has been incredible this season, averaging nearly 30 points a game. We wish we could say the same about the rest of the team. Notably, the wings have been a letdown this year. Both Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges have struggled to get the ball through the hoop at the same efficiency they had last year. Brandon Miller specifically has been shooting poorly, hitting only 38% from the field and 33% from three. That’s in contrast to nearly 44% from the field last year. We don’t know what’s happened with Miller, but he needs to find his shot again if this team has any chance of making the playoffs this year.
Beyond those two, injuries have been an issue again. Mark Williams still has a foot injury, and even Nick Richards is ruled out tonight. The lack of size and an anchor on defense has been a problem. This team can’t stop anyone on defense. With Williams hopefully returning in the near future, we could see him having a massive impact on this team.
Charlotte has relied almost exclusively on LaMelo to put up superstar stats to keep them competitive. Even then, the success rate has not been there for us to be comfortable taking them tonight. The Pistons are just a more well-rounded team at the moment. We think this will be a close matchup, but ultimately, the size and health of Detroit may swing it their way!
Cade Cunningham 25+ Points: We think Cade could have an excellent scoring night against LaMelo. Despite his superstar stats on offense, Ball has yet to be a stalwart defender. If Cade can get the switch onto Ball often and get away, Miller Cad won’t have any trouble getting to the hoop tonight!
Jalen Duren Over 10.5 Rebounds: This is an easy take for us. With Charlotte lacking all of their bigs, Duren will feast tonight. We could see him hit the 11 rebound mark early, too, as he’s been hunting for boards with a passion!
LaMelo Ball 41+ Combine Points + Rebounds + Assists: LaMelo is Charlotte's engine; if they have a shot at beating the Pistons, it’s through him. This line is very doable if LaMelo scores well tonight, averaging nearly 30 points a game; he just needs to grab some boards and hope his teammate's shots start falling!