Orlando Magic vs Detroit Pistons NBA Prediction, Pick and Preview, February 23rd, 2023

Odds

2022-2023 season stats

Preview

The Detroit Pistons hit the road and will visit the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center on Thursday night to play their first game after the All-Star break. These teams already faced each other twice so far this season in Detroit where the Pistons have won both games and the last time they met Orlando’s Moritz Wagner appeared to briefly get knocked out by a punch to the back of the head after starting a fight in the first half against the Pistons that led to three ejections.  

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are in the midst of a rebuilding year and have struggled throughout the season. They have a record of 15-44 and have gone 3-7 in their last 10 games. Despite this, they have been able to put up some decent offensive numbers, averaging 111.6 points per game over their last 10 games. However, their defense has been a weakness, allowing an average of 117.9 points per game over the same span.

Bojan Bogdanovic has been the Pistons' top scorer this season, averaging 21.8 points per game while shooting 40.7% from beyond the arc. Jaden Ivey has also been a bright spot for the team, shooting 43.5% and averaging 15.5 points over the last 10 games.

The Pistons will be without rookie sensation Cade Cunningham, who is out for the season with a shin injury. This will be a big loss for the team, as Cunningham was expected to be a key piece of their rebuilding effort.

Despite their struggles, the Pistons have been able to put up some solid offensive numbers in their last 10 games, averaging 111.6 points per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. They have also been able to average 40.7 rebounds and 23.7 assists per game during this span.

However, one area where the Pistons have struggled is on the defensive end of the court. Over their last 10 games, their opponents have been able to average 117.9 points per game. This has been a consistent issue for the Pistons throughout the season, as they currently rank last in the NBA in points allowed per game, giving up an average of 118.6 points per game.

Orlando Magic

The Magic have struggled this season, but they have shown some promise in recent games. Over their last 10 games, they have a record of 5-5 and have been averaging 109.7 points per game. Their defense has been inconsistent, allowing an average of 110.2 points per game. However, they have been able to make up for it with strong rebounding, averaging 42.9 rebounds per game.

The Magic are led by rookie forward Franz Wagner, who has been a bright spot for the team this season. He is shooting 36.6% from beyond the arc and averaging 18.9 points and 3.5 assists per game. Paolo Banchero has also been a key contributor, shooting 38.5% and averaging 17.6 points over the past 10 games.

Orlando will be without Cole Anthony, who is listed as day to day with a wrist injury. This could be a blow to the team, as Anthony has been a key contributor for the Magic this season, averaging 16.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. His absence could be a blow to the team's offensive production..

Over their last 10 games, the Magic have a record of 5-5 and have been averaging 109.7 points per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. They have also been able to average 42.9 rebounds, 23.1 assists, 8.5 steals, and 3.8 blocks per game during this span.

BETTING TRENDS

Detroit are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games.

Detroit are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 games against Orlando.

Detroit are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games against Orlando.

Detroit are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games on the road.

Detroit are 3-8 SU in their last 11 games when playing on the road against Orlando.

Detroit are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games against an opponent in the Eastern Conference conference.

Orlando are 12-6 ATS in their last 18 games.

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando's last 6 games.

The total has gone OVER in 5 of Orlando's last 7 games against Detroit.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Orlando's last 6 games at home.

Prediction

Despite the Magic's struggles this season, they have shown some promise in recent games. They have been able to put up some solid offensive numbers and have shown some improvement on the defensive end. In contrast, the Pistons have struggled on defense and will be without one of their top players in Cade Cunningham.

With the Magic favored by 6.5 points, this game could be an opportunity for them to build some momentum and pick up a much-needed win. While the Pistons have shown some potential, they have not been consistent enough to suggest that they can pull off an upset on the road.

In the end, the Magic should be able to take care of business at home and come away with a comfortable win over the Pistons.

PICK: Magic -6.5 (-110)

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