Rockets vs Pistons Free Pick NBA Predictions 03/31

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Pistons vs Rockets - NBA Game Preview - March 31, 2023 | Rockets face the Pistons on 7-game slide

The Detroit Pistons (16-60, 15th in the Eastern Conference) will face off against the Houston Rockets (18-59, 15th in the Western Conference) in Houston on Friday at 8 p.m. EDT. The Rockets are entering the game on a seven-game losing streak, and they have a 12-26 record at home so far this season. Meanwhile, the Pistons have struggled on the road with a record of 7-30. As for predictions, NBA picks experts, NBA picks computer models, and NBA picks em predictions all indicate that the Rockets are favored to win this match-up. NBA today experts and NBA picks and parlay predictions have also sided with the Rockets in this game. Despite the odds against them, the Pistons will look to find success against the Rockets. In their last meeting on January 29, the Rockets defeated the Pistons 117-114, with Eric Gordon leading the way with 24 points. Both teams have some standout performers to keep an eye on in this game. For the Rockets, Alperen Sengun has been averaging 14.7 points per game with 8.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Meanwhile, Jalen Green has been averaging 23.2 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 42.4% over the last 10 games for Houston. On the Pistons side, Killian Hayes has been scoring 9.9 points per game and averaging 2.8 rebounds, while Cory Joseph has been averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Detroit. Ultimately, this game will come down to which team is able to execute their game plan better on the court. NBA experts picks today and NBA picks with spread predictions will be watching closely to see how this match-up unfolds. NBA picks for today and NBA picks odds and NBA picks and parlays will all be in favor of the Rockets, but anything can happen in the game of basketball.

Pistons: Offensive Analysis

The Detroit Pistons have struggled offensively all season, ranked 28th in points per game with only an average of 110.7. This is not a surprise considering their record of 16-60 and 15th place in the Eastern Conference. Their inefficiency on the offensive end is a major factor in their lack of success this season. Their shooting percentages are also lower than most teams, only shooting 45.4% from the field and 35.1% from beyond the arc. They also have a low effective field goal percentage of only 52.0%, which ranks them 27th in the league. Their two-point shooting percentage of 51.5% is dead last in the league, and they struggle to put consistent points on the board. The Pistons average only 23.0 assists per game, which ranks them 27th in the league. They also average 15.6 turnovers per game, which will give the Houston Rockets plenty of opportunities to capitalize on their mistakes. Detroit's offense is also struggling in rebounding, averaging a total of 51.5 per game, ranking them 13th in the league. They have had difficulties scoring in the paint, only averaging 46.5 points per game, ranking them 22nd in the league. Based on our expert analysis and computer predictions, the Pistons are likely to struggle offensively against the Rockets. The Rockets are not much better offensively, but their defense will likely create problems for the Pistons' weak offense. Our NBA picks and parlays suggest the Rockets will once again come out on top in this matchup.

Pistons: Defensive Analysis

As the Detroit Pistons take on the Houston Rockets, their defensive strategy will be crucial to securing a win. Currently, the Pistons hold a record of 16-60 and sit in 15th place in the Eastern Conference. However, they have the opportunity to improve their standing with a strong defensive effort against the Rockets. Looking at their stats, the Pistons struggle on the defensive end, ranking 28th in points per game allowed and 27th in opponent's points per game. They also have a negative average score margin and allow their opponents to shoot 48.9% from the field. To make matters worse, Detroit has an unfavorable record on the road, with a 7-30 record away from their home court. They also struggle against teams with winning records, with a 7-37 record against opponents over .500. In order to improve their defense and combat the Rockets' offense, the Pistons will need to limit turnovers and improve their rebounding. Detroit currently averages 15 turnovers per game, whereas Houston only averages 13.6 turnovers per game. Additionally, the Pistons will need to focus on securing rebounds and limiting second-chance opportunities for their opponents. While the Rockets have struggled this season as well, with a record of 18-59 and sitting in 15th place in the Western Conference, they have a strong offensive game. Houston ranks 5th in points in the paint per game and 2nd in total rebounds per game. The key for the Pistons will be to disrupt the Rockets' offensive flow and limit their scoring opportunities through solid defensive play. This will require a strong effort from Detroit's players, and they will need to rely on their defensive leaders to set the tone and execute their game plan effectively. In conclusion, the Detroit Pistons will need to come out strong on the defensive end if they hope to secure a win against the Houston Rockets. While they have struggled defensively this season, limiting turnovers and improving rebounding will be key for their success. The Pistons will need to execute their defensive game plan effectively to disrupt the Rockets' offense and secure a much-needed win.

Rockets: Offense Analysis

The Houston Rockets have had a tough season and things don't seem to be getting better. They are currently on a seven-game losing streak and facing the Detroit Pistons, who have a 7-37 record against teams over .500. However, the Rockets cannot afford to underestimate their opponent. Looking at their offense, the Rockets are ranked 29th in the league in points per game with an average of 110.4. They also have a poor effective field goal percentage of 51.6%, which is ranked 29th. Their three-point shooting is also a concern, with a percentage of just 32.5%, which is the worst in the league. Despite these struggles, the Rockets have a strong presence in the paint, averaging 54.6 points per game, which is the fifth best in the league. This is largely thanks to their talented center, Alperen Sengun, who is averaging 14.7 points per game along with 8.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists. The Rockets will need to improve their ball movement and assist numbers, as they currently rank last in the league in assists per game with just 22.4. They also have a high turnover rate, averaging 15.6 turnovers per game. If they can clean up their offensive mistakes, they will have a better chance of putting up points on the board. According to NBA picks experts, the Rockets are not favored to win this game. However, if they can focus on their strengths and limit their turnovers, they may surprise their opponents and end their losing streak.

Rockets: Defensive Analysis

The Houston Rockets are facing the Detroit Pistons on March 31, 2023, after losing seven consecutive games. While their current record of 18-59 places them at 15th in the Western Conference, the Rockets are eager to win this game to break their losing streak. In this defensive analysis, we will look at the Rockets' defensive capabilities, which could be a major factor in their success. In their last ten games, the Rockets have allowed an average of 121.8 points per game to their opponents, which is quite high. However, they have been able to keep opponents to an average of 44.2 rebounds per game, which is impressive. This is due in large part to their strong defensive frontcourt, featuring rookie center Alperen Sengun, who is averaging 3.8 assists, 8.7 rebounds, and 14.7 points per game. The Rockets also have Jalen Green, who has been averaging 1.2 steals per game. The Rockets have shown tenacity on the defensive end of the floor, with an average of 7.5 steals and 2.5 blocks per game. While they have allowed opponents to shoot 48.9% from the field, the Rockets have given up an average of only 33.3 three-point attempts per game, which suggests that they are active in contesting perimeter shots. Moreover, the Rockets have an impressive rebounding presence on the court, averaging 55.8 total rebounds per game. This, coupled with their ability to capitalize on opponents' turnovers (Houston has 15.6 turnovers per game, and they have won six out of the ten games when they had fewer turnovers than their opponents), makes them unpredictable and difficult to play against. In conclusion, while the Rockets have been struggling in recent games, they have a strong defensive backbone that gives them the capability to compete against any team in the league. They must continue to build on their defensive strength and hard work to snap their losing streak and achieve success moving forward.

Injury Report

The Detroit Pistons have several players listed on the injury report for this game. Center Isaiah Stewart is out with a shoulder injury, rookie point guard Cade Cunningham is out for the remainder of the season with a shin injury, guard Alec Burks is out with a foot injury, guard Hamidou Diallo is out with an ankle injury, and forwards Rodney McGruder and Bojan Bogdanovic are both out with Achilles injuries. On the other hand, the Houston Rockets have only one player listed on the injury report. Forward Jae'Sean Tate is day-to-day with a knee injury. These injuries will definitely have an impact on both teams' playing rotations and game strategies. The Pistons will have to adjust without two of their top players, Stewart and Cunningham, while the Rockets will likely rely more heavily on their other young players, such as Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun. Overall, the Pistons' injury list is longer and more impactful than the Rockets', which could give Houston a slight advantage heading into the game. It will be interesting to see how both teams adapt to the players they have available and what kind of game plan they come up with.

Betting Trends

The Detroit Pistons are on a 1-9 losing streak and have a road record of 7-30. Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have lost their last seven games and have a home record of 12-26. With both teams struggling, NBA picks experts may have a tough time predicting the outcome of this game. In terms of betting trends, the Rockets are 3-7 in their last 10 games and are averaging 111.3 points per game. The Pistons, on the other hand, are 1-9 in their last 10 games and are averaging 105.9 points per game. Based on these trends, NBA picks computers may favor the Rockets to win this match. The Rockets also have a better record against the spread, covering in 29 of their 77 games this season. The Pistons have only covered in 25 of their 76 games. When it comes to NBA picks and parlays, bettors may want to consider the Rockets with the spread. Looking at the odds, the Rockets are currently listed as a 5.5-point favorite over the Pistons with a total of 215.5 points. Bettors who believe that the Rockets will cover the spread may want to take advantage of the odds and bet on the Rockets to win by at least 6 points. Overall, NBA picks experts and NBA predictions today may favor the Rockets to win this game against the struggling Pistons. The Rockets have a better record against the spread and have a slight edge in terms of recent performance. However, with both teams struggling, bettors may want to exercise caution when making their NBA picks for this game.

Prediction: Rockets to end 7-game slide with win over Pistons

The Rockets may be on a seven-game losing streak, but facing the lowly Pistons presents an opportunity to end that skid. Houston has had some strong individual performances, such as Jalen Green's scoring outbursts and Alperen Sengun's impressive all-around game. Meanwhile, Detroit has struggled on the road and against teams with winning records. While the Pistons have some promising young talent, it may not be enough to overcome Houston's size and athleticism. The Rockets should cover the spread and come away with a much-needed victory. 

Pick: Rockets (-4.5)