New Orleans Pelicans (18-50) vs Detroit Pistons (37-31)
Game Info: Monday, March 17, 2025 at 8:00 pm (Smoothie King Center)
Betting Odds: New Orleans Pelicans +6 -- Over/Under: 233.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: GCSEN
The Detroit Pistons (37-31) are set to face the New Orleans Pelicans (18-50) on March 17, 2025, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The Pistons currently hold the sixth position in the Eastern Conference, boasting a respectable 19-15 road record. Their offensive rebounding has been a strength, averaging 11.3 offensive boards per game, led by Jalen Duren with 3.4 per game.
In contrast, the Pelicans have struggled this season, sitting at 14th in the Western Conference. They have a 12-22 home record and have been outscored by an average of 8.2 points per game. The team has also been dealing with injuries, with five players currently listed on the injury report. Given the disparity in records and recent performances, the Pistons enter this matchup as the favorites. However, the Pelicans will aim to leverage their home-court advantage to challenge Detroit and potentially secure an upset.
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CJ McCollum Over 21.5 Points
CJ McCollum has been a key offensive contributor for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2024–25 NBA season. He’s averaging 21.2 points per game, ranking 32nd in the league. His shooting efficiency includes a field goal percentage of 44.8% and a three-point shooting percentage of 38.1%. We’ve seen McCollum thrive when Zion has been out of the lineup this season. He’s coming off a game where he scored 26 points against the Spurs. If Zion is once again out for the Pelicans, expect McCollum to be extra aggressive on the offensive side of the ball to help his team stay in this one.
Karlo Matovic Over 7.5 Rebounds
Karlo Matković has been a solid contributor to the New Orleans Pelicans' frontcourt, particularly in the rebounding department. Over 24 games, including three starts, he has averaged 4.1 rebounds per game while playing 16.3 minutes per contest. His rebounding efforts are balanced between the offensive and defensive ends, with 2.7 defensive rebounds and 1.4 offensive rebounds per game. With the absence of Zion Williamson, Matovic has had to step up in a big way. We’ve seen him secure double-digit rebounds in his last game against the Spurs and a couple of games ago against Memphis. He’s fully capable of getting over this number of 7 rebounds, and with him playing more minutes than usual, I like him to do it in this one.
Cade Cunningham Over 26.5 Points
Cade Cunningham has been a standout performer for the Detroit Pistons during the 2024–25 NBA season. Over 62 games, he has averaged 25.9 points per game, ranking 10th in the league. His shooting efficiency includes a field goal percentage of 46.2% and a three-point shooting percentage of 35.2%. In the Pistons' most recent game on March 16th, 2025, against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cunningham contributed 11 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds before being ejected late in the third quarter. I think we see a pissed off Cunningham after that ejection on Saturday night. Before that game, we saw Cunningham score 27+ points in his last 6 games. Expect a solid bounce-back night for Cunningham against this weak, shorthanded Pelicans team.
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AUTHOR: Brad Francis
