Pistons vs. Pacers: Opening night preview, odds and prediction

Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey makes a layup as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (3) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, in Detroit.

Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey makes a layup as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (3) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, in Detroit.AP

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After one of the worst seasons in NBA history, the Detroit Pistons will look to open the 2024-25 campaign with a win on Wednesday against the visiting Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers are favored by 4.5 points to beat the Pistons across Michigan betting sites after winning all four meetings last year by an average of 16 points.

Indiana averaged nearly 130 points in those four wins, and none were decided by fewer than eight points.

Here is our Pistons vs. Pacers betting preview, betting odds and predictions for Wednesday’s season opener, which tips off at 7 p.m. ET from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit:

Pistons look to turn page in 2024 opener

How do you pick up the pieces from the worst season in franchise history?

That was the charge of Trajan Langdon, the Pistons' new president of basketball operations, who was busy this summer adding veteran pieces to a group that went 14-68 last year.

As we detailed in our Detroit Pistons season preview, the team’s biggest addition was veteran swingman Tobias Harris, who averaged 16.8 points in his first stint in Detroit and scored 17.2 points per game in 2023-24.

Langdon didn’t do much to fix this leaky Pistons defense, which allowed the fifth-most points per game (119) a season ago.

That’s a major concern against Indiana, which led the league in scoring (123.3 PPG) and ranked second in offensive rating (120.5) in last year’s regular season.

The Pacers ran it back this year and should benefit from a full offseason to integrate All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam, who joined the team in January.

He presents a matchup nightmare for the Pistons' wing defenders, especially with Ausar Thompson (illness) out for the season opener.

Pistons vs. Pacers odds

The Pacers opened as short as -6 ahead of their season opener, but point spread betting has clearly favored the home underdogs as tip-off nears.

BetRivers Sportsbook was offering Pistons +6 as recently as Monday morning before shifting to +5 with -115 odds, which is still the best price for Detroit backers.

We’ve seen the rest of the market move to 4.5, though some buyback on Indiana could signal a return to 5 closer to game time.

If you like the visitors, you can still bet Pacers -4.5 with -108 odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

FanDuel is also offering the best moneyline odds for the Pistons at +166, which would turn a $10 bet into a $16.60 profit if Detroit opens the season with a win.

The total has bounced between 232.5 and 234.5 across the best Michigan sportsbooks, which have mostly settled at 233.5 ahead of tip-off.

Those expecting a low-scoring affair should target Under 234 at Caesars Sportsbook, while those backing a barn-burner will want to bet Over 233 at BetRivers.

Will Cade Cunningham impress in 2024 debut?

Perhaps the biggest storyline for Detroit’s season opener - and its entire season, for that matter - is the progression of its star point guard in his fourth season.

As we mentioned in our season preview, Cunningham is +500 via DraftKings Sportsbook to make his first All-Star team this year after averaging career highs in points (22.7) and assists (7.5) last year.

He was more efficient in his third season, too, shooting 48.7% on twos and 35.5% on threes. But it wasn’t enough to translate to wins for the majority of the season.

He’ll be tested on both ends of the court with Tyrese Haliburton - who paced the NBA last year in assists (10.9) - looking to build off an All-NBA season for Indiana.

Haliburton averaged 21.3 points and 12 assists in four games against Detroit last season, both of which ranked in his top 10 against any opponent.

Pistons vs. Pacers betting

For all of the hype around Cunningham, I’m skeptical that he’ll clear his consensus scoring total of 24.5 with the defensive attention he should draw in his debut.

I‘d rather bet Harris to finish Over 15.5 points (-108) at Caesars, which seems to be undervaluing the Pistons’ biggest offseason addition who was clearly signed to score buckets.

This also feels like a prime spot for Haliburton to remind the rest of the league why he was invited to join Team USA in this summer’s Olympic Games.

He’s dealing at -115 odds via BetMGM Sportsbook to combine for at least 29 points and assists, which he did in all four games against Detroit last season.

Pistons vs. Pacers prediction

I‘m a bit surprised to see the market move in favor of the Pistons given how prolific the Pacers’ offense looked last season - especially in this matchup.

That’s why I’m targeting Indiana Over 119.5 points (-105) at DraftKings Sportsbook, which cashed in all four matchups last season and 54 of the Pacers’ 82 games overall (65.9%).


      

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