Friday night is the second of a back-to-back for the Los Angeles Lakers. The team has made some noise about possibly resting LeBron James in the second of a back-to-back. If he sits Friday against the Detroit Pistons, that would hugely affect the Mybookie Sportsbook NBA spread.
How to Bet Lakers vs Pistons NBA Spread & Prediction
- When: Friday, 7 PM ET
- Where: Little Caesars Arena
- TV: TNT
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- NBA Spread: Detroit Pistons -11 (Total 218.5)
Season Series
Detroit has won the past three at home vs. the Lakers but lost in Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 113-100 when LeBron James was out injured. Kyle Kuzma scored a career-high 41 points in three quarters against his childhood team. Kuzma had 22 points in the third quarter, hitting four 3-pointers.
He was a 9-year-old in Flint, Michigan when the Pistons won the 2004 NBA Finals. Michael Beasley picked up where Kuzma left off, scoring 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. The Lakers took the lead for good in the second during a 20-7 spurt that pushed their lead to 13. Detroit’s Blake Griffin was held to 16 points. He had no rebounds for the first time in his career, in part because of Kuzma’s defense. Andre Drummond had 17 rebounds and Reggie Jackson added 15 points for the Pistons.
Why Bet on LA Lakers?
We’re going to assume that LeBron James plays – he hasn’t sounded too enthusiastic about potentially sitting out the second of a back-to-back the rest of the way, and Luke Walton isn’t going to tell LeBron what to do, especially with Walton a lock to be fired after the season. James’ personal streaks of 13 straight postseason appearances and eight straight NBA Finals berths are all but finished, but he says there’s still reason to play.
“I don’t talk about [being professional]. That’s what I live,” James said. I live being professional. I live playing every game like it’s my last. No matter what’s going on. You finish out strong. That’s just who I am.” James is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 27.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game.
“We’re still playing playoff teams,” James added. “For our young guys to be able to play playoff teams on the road, it’s very key for their development still. We have an opportunity on this road trip. … We go into Detroit, who’s a playoff team. We go into Milwaukee at the end of the trip. All playoff teams, all good teams. Those games will be like playoff games if we want them to be. They’ll get an opportunity to learn, and I get an opportunity to play with them, so we can take that out of it for sure.”
Los Angeles has won 11 games this season after trailing by 10 or more points, highlighted by a season-best 20-point comeback on Tuesday in Chicago to defeat the Bulls, 123-107. Overall, the Lakers have won five games by double figures after trailing by at least 10 points in the contest.
This will be the 217th meeting between the Lakers and Pistons in the Los Angeles era (142-74) and the 339th game overall (206-132) between the two teams dating back to their first meeting in December 1948. In Detroit, the Lakers are 6-4 in their last 10 games.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 111.99
- Field Goal Percentage: 47.46
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.19
- Free Throw Percentage: 69.01
- Total Rebounds: 46.22
Defense
- Total Score: 113.88
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.23
- Three-Point Percentage: 35.01
- Free Throw Percentage: 79.22
- Total Rebounds: 47.01
Why Bet on Detroit?
The Pistons have had an odd week. They entered it playing as well as anyone in the Eastern Conference since the All-Star break but then were blasted on Monday in Brooklyn. Things were no better Wednesday in a 108-74 loss in Miami. The Pistons missed their first 11 shots out halftime and the Heat went on a 21-0 run. They would outscore Detroit 33-8 in the third. Miami’s starting five played 12 minutes together in the third. They shot 12 for 17, 4 for 4 from 3-point range and Miami outscored Detroit 36-13 in those 12 minutes.
“It’s about our mental fortitude and coming out and having a better mindset at the beginning of games, myself included,” Pistons star Blake Griffin said after yet another embarrassing loss. “I’m not excluding myself from that at all. If we have any fight about us at all we’ll come out and rectify that.” Griffin had just 13 points vs. Miami.
Andre Drummond made just 1-of-3 from the field for five points with nine rebounds, two blocks and five turnovers in 24 minutes against the Heat. That ends his 19-game streak with a double-double, which ties the franchise record. He picked up his fourth foul with 10:49 left in the third quarter and eventually fouled out.
Reggie Jackson (right ankle) had an obvious limp following Wednesday’s loss. Jackson was forced out of the game after tweaking his ankle during the fourth quarter, and while he downplayed the injury to reporters after the game, he required assistance to the showers and was sporting an obvious limp in the Pistons’ locker room. Ish Smith could start if Jackson sits. Luke Kennard also would see extra time.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 107.18
- Field Goal Percentage: 44.09
- Three-Point Percentage: 34.67
- Free Throw Percentage: 74.03
- Total Rebounds: 45.25
Defense
- Total Score: 107.78
- Field Goal Percentage: 46.92
- Three-Point Percentage: 34.22
- Free Throw Percentage: 75.15
- Total Rebounds: 43.63
Lakers vs Pistons NBA Betting Trends
- Home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings
- Favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings
- Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Detroit
- LA is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
- LA is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Lakers’s last 6 games on the road
- Detroit is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
- Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit’s last 5 games at home
Expert Final Score Prediction for Lakers vs Pistons
Los Angeles Lakers 107 – Detroit Pistons 113
