Orlando (19-24) at Detroit (18-24)
When: Wednesday, January 16th, 2019
Where: Little Caesars Arena,
Detroit Michigan
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: FS Florida, FS Detroit
Opening Odds: Detroit -4.5/206.5
A couple of sub-.500 teams, who will be battling for a playoff spot the rest of the season, will take the court on Wednesday night in Detroit as the Pistons host the Orlando Magic for the third time this season. Orlando has strung together impressive back-to-back wins and will seek a third straight victory before returning home. The Magic limped home from a 1-5 six-game road trip only to top two of the better teams in the league – Boston and Houston, but are just 7-13 on the road this season. The last three setbacks on the road trip were not pretty for Orlando, as they failed to eclipse 100 points in each, but used great shooting, rebounding, and defense to upend the Celtics and Rockets on back-to-back nights. The Pistons are fading fast in the Eastern Conference, dropping to 10th place – a half-game behind ninth-place Orlando – after suffering their 17th loss in the last 22 games with a 100-94 setback at the Utah Jazz on Monday. That concluded a 1-3 road trip, but the Pistons will now play three home games in four days beginning with the Magic on Wednesday. The teams split the first two meetings in Orlando this season, with the Magic earning a 109-107 victory in the most recent matchup on December 30th, as three players scored 22 points or more.
Shooting guard Evan Fournier scored 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting in the win over the Rockets, but his defense on superstar James Harden was the more impressive showing. Fournier held Harden to 1-of-17 shooting from 3-point range in the 116-109 triumph. The Magic continue to be led on offense by Nikola Vucevic, who recorded 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists against Houston and is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 boards on the season while shooting 52.6 percent from the floor.
The Pistons 94 points in the loss at Utah was embarrassing considering they scored 59 points in the first half and complete shutdown in the second half, including 15 points in the third quarter, but did have a chance to win at the end. Blake Griffin led the team with 19 points in the loss after pouring in 44 in a 109-104 win over his old team the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. Point guard Ish Smith returned from his groin injury on Monday and scored eight points in 19 minutes off the bench after missing the previous 19 games.
The home team in this series usually fairs better, winning seven of the last nine and covering the spread in six of those, but I really don’t like the way this Detroit team is playing. Orlando is coming off a couple of confidence building wins and I feel they can handle the Pistons tonight. Take the points.
Pick: Magic +3.5
- Magic are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Magic are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Magic are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 vs. NBA Central.
- Magic are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
- Magic are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Magic are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Magic are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday games.
- Magic are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.
- Magic are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Pistons are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 Wednesday games.
- Pistons are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
- Pistons are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss.
- Pistons are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 home games.
- Pistons are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Pistons are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Pistons are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 vs. NBA Southeast.
- Pistons are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Pistons are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
- Pistons are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Pistons are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Over is 5-0 in Magic last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 5-0 in Magic last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 9-1 in Magic last 10 vs. NBA Central.
- Under is 4-1 in Magic last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Under is 4-1 in Magic last 5 overall.
- Under is 8-2 in Magic last 10 road games.
- Under is 4-1 in Magic last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 8-3 in Magic last 11 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 37-16 in Magic last 53 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Pistons last 4 overall.
- Under is 4-0 in Pistons last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Pistons last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Pistons last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Pistons last 6 Wednesday games.
- Under is 5-1 in Pistons last 6 vs. NBA Southeast.
- Under is 4-1 in Pistons last 5 games following a straight up loss.
- Magic are 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
- Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Detroit.
- Home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
