Wizards Try to Get Back on Track
The season is pretty much over for the Detroit Pistons, sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference. On the other hand, the Washington Wizards desperately need to climb back up the standings and get into a play-in spot. The teams will meet on Tuesday with very different things on the line.
The Pistons’ last game ended an 11-game losing streak, beating the Indiana Pacers 117-97 on Monday. The Wizards’ NBA playoff odds took another hit in their last game, losing 112-93 to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
Pistons’ Fate Already Decided
It’s almost certain that the Pistons will end this season at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. However, they are still battling for the worst record in the league with the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. That makes Detroit a problematic team for NBA picks because the team is operating to get the best chance of selecting French superstar Victor Wembanyama.
Their position is only made worse by the injuries that have mounted recently. Bojan Bogdanović could be shut down for the rest of the season, Isaiah Stewart is pretty much done, Marvin Bagley III is a new addition to the injury report, and Jaden Ivey is in health and safety protocols.
Each one has played a crucial role in Detroit at least staying competitive in some games. With them out, there is not much else to rely on. However, this is a chance for players like Killian Hayes and Isaiah Livers to prove their worth for the future.
James Wiseman is another player being given an opportunity. The former second-overall pick could not find a role with the Golden State Warriors but has looked good with the Pistons, with 18 points and 14 rebounds in the win over the Pacers.
Wizards Slipping
The race for the Eastern Conference play-in is not making the rounds around NBA news nearly like the West is, but it is still compelling. Washington is right in the thick of it, half a game from 10th and one from ninth. But this recent six-game stretch, with the Wizards only winning one game, has not been great. That one win was against the Pistons.
The Wizards have faced tough opponents over the last six games, the Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, and 76ers. Each team is above them in the standings, and outside of the loss to the 76ers, each game had a point differential of less than 10. However, the lack of support for the three leading players remains a problem.
a career-high tying 25 points for @corey_kispert tonight 🎯 pic.twitter.com/TUaomoXsSt
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 13, 2023
Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and Kyle Kuzma have carried their weight through these games, averaging over 20 points, but no one else is even close. The next highest is Corey Kispert at 11 points per game. Kispert came up big with 25 points against the 76ers, but the top three players struggled. The team as a whole shot 23.1% from three.
Washington has only been favored by the NBA lines twice over the last 10 games, going 3-7 against the spread (ATS).
Pistons vs Wizards Game Injuries
Pistons vs Wizards Head-to-Head
The Wizards have dominated the Pistons, which is no surprise. Washington won all four games last season and the two in this. The last game was close, finishing 119-117 on March 7, with Beal scoring 32 points.
Pistons vs Wizards Game Information
- Game: Pistons (16-53) vs Wizards (31-37)
- Location: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
- Day/Time: Tuesday, March 14, 7:00 p.m. EST
- Pistons vs Wizards Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Pistons vs Wizards Betting Lines
Pistons vs Wizards Picks and Prediction
This is becoming a must-win game for the Wizards. They have been unable to beat the teams above them in the standings, so winning against one of the few below them is a must. Given all the injuries the Pistons are going through, Washington has a good chance.
However, the question is, can they cover the NBA betting lines? This should be a tone-up game for the Wizards to build momentum to make a play-in push, but with a 12-point spread, it’s hard to see that happening.
The Washington Wizards are listed at -750 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Wizards, you have a chance to win $13. The Detroit Pistons is +520, offering a chance to win $520 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Washington Wizards an 88.24% chance to win, with the Detroit Pistons at 16.13%.
Pistons vs Wizards Trends
Pistons vs Wizards Edge
Pistons vs Wizards Results
Pistons vs Wizards Game Summary
Wizards vs Pistons Previous Game (March 7, 2023)
The Washington Wizards own a surprising six-game winning streak and collide with an objectively terrible Detroit Pistons unit. While the Wizards are streaking and currently the No. 10 seed in the East, the Pistons are on an eight-game losing streak and tied for the worst record in the league. Despite the massive talent gap, the NBA lines list the Wizards as modest 7-point favorites over the Pistons.The Wizards aren’t an awe-inspiring team, but they might as well be the 1996 Chicago Bulls compared to the Pistons. A Piston’s team dealing with many injuries should give you pause if you’re thinking of betting on Detroit.
Our NBA picks will focus on the Wizards to cover the NBA point spread against the lowly Pistons.
