Detroit (13-24) at Cleveland (10-26)
When: Tuesday, January 7th, 2020
Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse,
Cleveland, Ohio
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: FS Detroit, Ohio
Opening Odds: Detroit -2/214.5
The Cleveland Cavaliers have one more home game to get things in order before heading out on a brutal road trip that includes a back-to-back at Staples Center against both the Lakers and Clippers. It’s been a rough season for the 10-26 Cavaliers, and star Kevin Love is starting to show his frustration on the court. Cleveland has dropped four games in a row (0-4 ATS) after Sunday’s 118-103 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the team will try and salvage the finale of their four-game homestand against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. The Cavaliers decided to rest Love and fellow veteran Tristan Thompson on Sunday for the second night of a back-to-back and instead gave a start to rookie guard Kevin Porter Jr., who left the game with a knee injury in the third quarter and left the arena on crutches. He is out indefinitely. The Pistons are eager to get back home and are playing the last of six consecutive road games after a 106-99 setback at the L.A. Lakers on Sunday. Detroit is 1-4 on the current trek with the only win coming over the Golden State Warriors Saturday night 111-104. The Pistons routed Cleveland 127-94 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse back on December 3rd and will play each other again in Detroit on Thursday.
The Pistons have been getting a lot out of Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk lately. The shooting guard has scored in double figures in four straight games after recording 14 points in 31 minutes off the bench Sunday. The Pistons’ roster is thin right now with the abscence of forwards Blake Griffin (knee) and Marcus Morris (foot) and guards Luke Kennard (knee) and Reggie Jackson (back). Veteran point guard Derrick Rose stepped up with 28 points in 29 minutes off the bench in the loss to the Lakers after scoring 22 the previous night. Kennard, Jacks, and Griffin are out indefinitely, while Morris is day-to-day.
Cleveland pulled out of a 25-point hole in the third quarter and took the lead on a Dante Exum 3-pointer, but the team ran out of gas and eventually fell 118-103 to Minnesota. Exum scored 24 of his career-high 28 points in the second half and went 11-of-13 from the floor, including 4-of-4 from long range. Ante Zizic recorded a double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds) in a season-high 24 minutes off the bench, while second-year point guard Collin Sextion led all starters with 19 points. Love is expected back in the lineup on Tuesday, but Thompson (illness) is still listed day-to-day.
Both teams are having their struggles, but the Cavaliers are at least a little healthier right now and are getting points at home. The long road trip will end in a loss for the Pistons.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Tuesday. He is 42-31-2 (58%) on the season!
Pick: Cavaliers +3
Tuesday’s Free Sports Picks – Hoops and Hockey Winners!
Pistons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Pistons are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Pistons are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games as a road favorite.
Pistons are 5-12-1 ATS in their last 18 road games.
Pistons are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
Pistons are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pistons are 10-27-1 ATS in their last 38 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pistons are 3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 games following a ATS win.
Pistons are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss.
Pistons are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pistons are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Cavaliers are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Cavaliers are 19-40-3 ATS in their last 62 games playing on 1 days rest.
Cavaliers are 7-15 ATS in their last 22 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Cavaliers are 5-11-1 ATS in their last 17 home games.
Cavaliers are 22-51 ATS in their last 73 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Cavaliers are 15-37 ATS in their last 52 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Cavaliers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Cavaliers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 Tuesday games.
Cavaliers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Cavaliers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss.
Cavaliers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Over is 6-0 in Pistons last 6 games as a favorite.
Over is 4-0 in Pistons last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Over is 4-0 in Pistons last 4 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Over is 5-1 in Pistons last 6 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 6-2 in Pistons last 8 overall.
Over is 6-2 in Pistons last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Pistons last 7 games following a ATS win.
Under is 5-2 in Pistons last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Under is 5-2 in Pistons last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Over is 7-3 in Pistons last 10 Tuesday games.
Under is 9-4 in Pistons last 13 road games.
Over is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 home games.
Over is 5-1 in Cavaliers last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Over is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 overall.
Over is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 7-3 in Cavaliers last 10 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
Over is 7-3 in Cavaliers last 10 games as an underdog.
Pistons are 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Cleveland.
Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Cleveland.
Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
