Atlanta Needs to Win
The Detroit Pistons have continued to trend towards getting the best possible draft odds, now with the worst record in the league. The team is dealing with injuries that will make winning harder, with them already peeking ahead to the draft.
Conversely, the Atlanta Hawks are holding on to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference to keep their NBA odds alive. They are much closer to dropping to 10th than breaking out of the Play-In. The teams have different perspectives on the rest of the season and will play on Tuesday.
On Sunday, the Pistons lost to the Miami Heat 112-100. The Hawks lost to the San Antonio Spurs, the team with the third-worst record, 126-118, blowing a massive lead after halftime.
Pistons Eyes on the Future
The Pistons have only won once over their last 15 games, leading them to be officially eliminated from the playoffs. This season could have been more of a “stepping-stone” for the future, but instead, they will be hoping for the best outcome in the NBA draft lottery.
Some NBA executives and scouts have noted Brandon Miller’s ability to perform at a high level after being connected to a murder case, per @MikeAScotto
“There’s a belief from some around the league that the Pistons could take a close look at Miller if https://t.co/bKlzS82IDS… https://t.co/TUpy3Lug5l pic.twitter.com/AoCguHM2AR
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) March 18, 2023
So far, Detroit has put itself in a great position for the lottery, with the worst record making them tied for the best odds to win the No.1 pick. The prize of the draft is Victor Wembanyama. If the Pistons don’t get the first pick, they might pass on Scoot Henderson because the team already has young guard talent. Reports are coming out that they are looking at Alabama’s Brandon Miller.
James Wiseman has rebuilt his value quickly after a disappointing run with the Golden State Warriors. The second-overall pick in 2020 couldn’t make things work with the Warriors and was traded at the deadline, topping NBA news. Against the Heat, he scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in 33 minutes.
Hawks Must Stay Eighth
This has been a roller-coaster season for the Hawks. Head coach Nate McMillan was fired and replaced by Quin Snyder, who has brought in some new energy. However, that new energy has not resulted in winning, with Atlanta going 4-6 under him. The team remains middle of the pack, teetering around .500.
The Hawks have been within one game of .500 for the past 25 games 😳
(h/t @johnschuhmann) pic.twitter.com/KnyLgqGpck
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 20, 2023
All the struggles seemingly culminated in the last loss to the Spurs. The Hawks had a 24-point lead early in the third quarter, scoring 83 points in the first half. However, they could only manage 35 points in the second half while giving up 39 alone in the third quarter.
Scoring has not been a problem for the Hawks, fifth in points per game, but defending has been. They allow the 24th most points per game, and under Snyder, there hasn’t been much change.
The NBA lines have not shifted too much on the Hawks, remaining favorites in six of their last 10 games. However, the team’s record and playoff hopes are getting concerning. They are just a game ahead of the 10th seed, which could drastically change their chances of making it out of the Play-In.
Pistons vs Hawks Game Injuries
Pistons vs Hawks Head-to-Head
The Hawks have won all three games against the Pistons this season, covering the NBA spreads in the last two. The Hawks have been heavily favored in each game, with the slowest spread set at six points.
Pistons vs Hawks Game Information
- Game: Pistons (16-56) vs Hawks (35-36)
- Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
- Day/Time: Tuesday, March 21, 7:30 p.m. EST
- Pistons vs Hawks Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Pistons vs Hawks Betting Lines
Pistons vs Hawks Picks and Prediction
Neither team has been great for NBA picks, both under 50% in their last 10 games against the spread (ATS). On top of that, the Hawks squandered a massive lead against a team on the same level as the Pistons.
Putting the issues in the Hawks’ last loss aside, this game should be different. They should be more motivated, given what happened against the Spurs, plus trying to get back to .500.
The Atlanta Hawks are listed at -1100 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Hawks, you have a chance to win $9. The Detroit Pistons is +700, offering a chance to win $700 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Atlanta Hawks a 91.67% chance to win, with the Detroit Pistons at 12.50%.
Pistons vs Hawks Trends
Pistons vs Hawks Edge
Pistons vs Hawks Results
Pistons vs Hawks Game Summary
Pistons vs Hawks Previous (Dec. 23, 2022)
The Hawks are currently listed as nine-point favorites in the sportsbook, which makes betting on this game tough.
Atlanta is a talented team, far more talented overall than the Pistons right now, but beating them by 10 points?
The Hawks won by double digits two games ago against the Charlotte Hornets while the Pistons have lost by at least 10 points in each of their last two. Look for those trends to continue, so lay the points with your NBA picks.
