LA CLIPPERS VS. DETROIT PISTONS ODDS AND PREDICTIONS FOR FEBRUARY 2, 2024

Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA coverage here at Latest Basketball News. One of the games on tap from tonight’s slate features the LA Clippers (31-15 SU, 26-20 ATS) taking on the Detroit Pistons (6-41 SU, 22-24-1 ATS).

Here is a look at which team has the edge going into this matchup and why.

Tipoff

• When: Friday, February 2, 2024
  
• Time: 7:00 PM ET
  
• Where: Little Caesars Arena
  
• Location: Detroit, Michigan
  
• TV: BSDET and BSSC 

LA Clippers vs. Detroit Pistons Odds (Via DraftKings)

LA Clippers vs. Detroit Pistons – Regular Season Stats & Betting Trends

Can The Clippers Notch Their Fourth Road Win In Five Tries?

LA Clippers Season Stats:

• Scoring Offense: 118.1 PPG – 10TH        
• Offensive Efficiency: 120.6 points per 100 possessions – 4TH             
• Scoring Defense: 111.7 PPG – 8TH         
• Defensive Efficiency: 114.1 points per 100 possessions – 11TH    

After a slow start, the LA Clippers have climbed to the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference playoff race. This ball club has also produced eight wins across its last 10 outings. This includes a 125-109 win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. 

Kawhi Leonard scored a team-high 31 points on 14-for-25 shooting from the field. He also accumulated nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals, proving why he is one of the best two-way players in the league. 

James Harden scored 25 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and handed out five assists to go along with two steals. Amir Coffey – who is averaging 5.4 points per game this season – chipped in with 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the floor and he knocked down both of his attempts from 3-point range. 

The Clippers did not look good early as they gave up 35 points in the opening quarter. However, they took control of the game over the next two quarters, outscoring Washington by a 69-44 margin. 

“It was huge, in that third quarter, just coming out with a defensive mindset,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said, via ESPN. “For our guys to lock in and give up 25 and 19 (points) in the second and third, I thought it was huge for us. It allowed us to get the lead and it was kind of over after that.”

Los Angeles is amid a seven-game road trip, having posted three wins through their first four stops. Considering they have won 14 of their last 17 games, the Clippers should have little trouble dispatching a Pistons squad with just six wins on the season. 

Can The Pistons Knock Off Another Western Conference Foe?

Detroit Pistons Season Stats:

• Scoring Offense: 112.6 PPG – 23RD  
• Offensive Efficiency: 111.6 points per 100 possessions – 26TH           
• Scoring Defense: 122.3 PPG – 27TH       
• Defensive Efficiency: 121.1 points per 100 possessions – 29TH     

On the other side of this matchup, we have the Detroit Pistons. There is no way to sugarcoat it. This team has had a tough season, to put it nicely.

First, they have the worst record in the league. Second, Detroit suffered a 28-game losing streak that spanned nearly two months on the calendar. 

Lastly, the Pistons have dropped seven of their last 10 contests. This includes a 128-121 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. 

Danilo Gallinari led Detroit with 20 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Cade Cunningham chipped in with 19 points, seven assists, and two steals. 

Detroit shot 55.6 percent from the field and converted 16 of its 31 attempts from beyond the arc. Unfortunately, their shooting efficiency was not enough due to turning the basketball over. Detroit committed 19 turnovers which led to 29 points for Cleveland. 

“We have to be better,” Pistons coach Monty Williams said via CBS Sports. “Some of the turnovers, especially early in the game, they were just unforced turnovers. Throwing the ball without looking to see the defender, sometimes we just threw it straight to a Cleveland defender. Twenty-nine points off of turnovers, that’s a lot of points and (if) you cut that in half, you win the game.”

On paper, this game is a mismatch across the board. However, Detroit did beat the Oklahoma City Thunder a week ago. Perhaps they have what it takes to knock off another Western Conference opponent. 

Now that we have set the table for this matchup, let us look at the betting trends for both sides.

The Picks

The Spread
The Clippers opened as a 10.5-point favorite. The line has recently climbed to 11.5 points for the road team (per pre-game.com). Here is a look at how both teams have fared against the spread this season. 

• The Los Angeles Clippers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. 
• In its last eight February contests, Los Angeles is just 2-6 against the spread. 
• The Detroit Pistons are a surprisingly 8-1 ATS in their last nine outings. 
• Detroit is 6-1 ATS in its last seven home games.
• In their last six matchups against Pacific Division opponents, the Clippers are just 1-5 against the spread. 

Although Detroit has fared well against the spread this season, the smart move is to go with the Clippers to cover the spread in this one.

Prediction: LA Clippers (-11.5)

Over/Under

The projected over/under total for this matchup opened at 235.5 points. The line has recently moved to 235. Here is why going with the “under” is the smart choice. 

• The total has gone UNDER four times in the Clippers’ last five games.
• The UNDER total has prevailed in each of Los Angeles’s last five games.
• In the Clippers’ last six games against Central Division opponents, the UNDER total prevailed four times. 
• The total has gone UNDER four times in the Pistons’ last five games.
• The UNDER total cashed in four times in Detroit’s last five matchups against the Clippers.
• The UNDER total has hit seven times in the Pistons’ last 10 February contests.
• In Detroit’s last eight games that took place on a Friday, the UNDER total won seven times.

Prediction: UNDER 235 points

Player Prop Bets

The key player to watch for the road team is Kawhi Leonard. He currently has -110 odds of scoring more than 26.5 points and -120 odds of finishing with less than 26.5 points.

Here is a glance to see how his numbers compare to the projected points total for this matchup. 

• In 10 career games against the Pistons, Leonard is averaging 19.2 points per contest.
• On the season, Leonard is averaging 23.9 points per outing. 
• In 22 road contests this season, he is averaging 25.3 PPG.
• Leonard has played against Eastern Conference opponents 12 times this season. In those contests, he is averaging 23.7 points per outing.
• Leonard has played eight times on a Friday this season. In those contests, he has averaged 24.4 points per game. 
• During January, he averaged 23.1 PPG, exceeding the points total for this matchup four times during that stretch.

Going with the “under” for Leonard is the smart choice based on the above trends.

Prediction: Kawhi Leonard UNDER 26.5 points

With Cade Cunningham being listed as “probable” for this matchup, the key player to watch for the home team is Bojan Bogdanovic. He currently has -105 odds of scoring more than 18.5 points and -125 odds of finishing with less than 18.5 points. 

Here is a glance at how his numbers stack up against the projected points total for this matchup. 

• On the season, Bogdanovic is averaging 20.3 points per outing. 
• In 15 home contests, he is averaging 21.6 PPG.
• Bogdanovic has played against Western Conference opponents 10 times this season. In those contests, he is averaging 18.8 points per outing.
• In two matchups against Pacific Division opponents Bogdanovic has averaged 19 points per game.
• During January – a sample size of 13 games – he averaged 21 PPG, exceeding the points total for this matchup seven times during that stretch.

Prediction: Bojan Bogdanovic OVER 18.5 points

James’s LA Clippers vs. Detroit Pistons Picks

• The Spread: LA Clippers (-11.5)
• Over/Under: UNDER 235 points
• Player Prop Bet #1: Kawhi Leonard UNDER 26.5 points
• Player Prop Bet #2: Bojan Bogdanovic OVER 18.5 points