The Atlanta Hawks (14-11) and Detroit Pistons (19-5) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EST from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. The game will broadcast live on NBA TV.
The Pistons are 7.5-point favorites over the Hawks on the spread (Pistons -7.5), with the over/under set at 234.5 total points. Detroit is a -285 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Atlanta is +230 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hawks vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks for Friday, December 12.
My Hawks vs Pistons Prediction
- Hawks vs Pistons pick: Cade Cunningham Over 15.5 Rebounds + Assists (-105)
My Pistons vs Hawks best bet is on Cade Cunningham over 15.5 rebounds + assists, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. However, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Hawks vs Pistons Odds
| Hawks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -115 | 234.5 -105o / -115u | +230 |
| Pistons Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -105 | 234.5 -105o / -115u | -285 |
Hawks vs Pistons NBA Preview
The Hawks had won seven straight against the Pistons, but the Pistons have taken five of the last six meetings. They have won the first two matchups this season, 120-112 in Atlanta and 99-98 in Detroit.
Tonight's matchup will be the second of three meetings in Detroit this season.
Prior to the break, the Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 131-116 victory over the Wizards.
Jalen Johnson led the way with 30 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. It was his third triple-double of the season as he tallied triple-doubles on both ends of the Hawks' back-to-back.
Despite the days off, Atlanta will remain without point guard Trae Young as he recovers from a sprained MCL in his right knee. Young has missed the last 20 games, but could return as early as next week.
In those 20 games, Johnson is averaging 24.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists on 53.5% shooting from the field and looks in line to be selected as a first-time All-Star. The team will also be without Kristaps Porzingis tonight as he is out with an illness.
The Pistons enter this matchup nearly at full strength, a rarity given that most of the rotation has missed time at various points this season.
They remain atop the Eastern Conference with a two-game lead over the Knicks. The team has shown improvement on both ends, jumping from 14th to 9th in offensive rating and from 10th to 4th in defensive rating.
Cade Cunningham has led the offensive jump, averaging 27.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 9.3 assists.
However, even he has room to improve, as he is shooting just 14.6% on catch-and-shoot threes this season.
That has brought his overall 3-point percentage down to 29.9% after he was over 35% in each of the last two seasons.
Another first-time All-Star this season is Jalen Duren. The Pistons' center has 13 double-doubles and is averaging 18.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game this season. He is averaging 22.5 points and 9.5 rebounds against the Hawks this season.
Hawks vs Pistons Prediction, Betting Analysis
In his past eight games against the Hawks, Cade Cunningham is averaging 10.9 assists and has had at least eight assists in seven of them.
He also has had at least six rebounds in each of his last six games against the Hawks, while averaging 6.5 rebounds in the last eight matchups.
As a result, Cunningham is averaging 17.4 rebounds + assists over his last eight games against Atlanta, clearing over 14.5 in each of the previous six matchups.
Atlanta is allowing the sixth-most rebounds and the ninth-most assists to point guards this season.
Additionally, Cunningham is averaging 15.7 RA per game on the year, so an average game would clear this line. I like him for 15 RA tonight and make this line playable at 15.5 as well.
A few of his assists will likely go to Duren tonight, and the Pistons have a +13.7 net rating when the two of them share the floor. Duren has scored 18 points in three of his last four games against the Hawks.
For the Hawks, Johnson has scored 20 points in four of his last five games against the Pistons, recording 40 PRA in three of them and in both meetings this season. He has recorded 40+ PRA in eight of his last 10 games, averaging 46.6 per game.
Lastly, Onyeka Okongwu has scored 20 points in both meetings against the Pistons this season and 15 or more in the last three meetings. He has scored 15 points in seven of his last 10 games.
He should be able to take advantage of his matchup with the Pistons, who allow the third-most 3-pointers to centers.
Pick: Cade Cunningham Over 15.5 Rebounds + Assists (-105, DraftKings)
Hawks vs Pistons Parlay Picks
- Cade Cunningham Over 15.5 Rebounds + Assists
- Jalen Johnson 40+ Points+ Rebounds+ Assists
- Jalen Duren 18+ Points
- Onyeka Okongwu 15+ Points
Parlay Odds: +485 via DraftKings
Pistons vs Hawks Betting Trends
