The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons will square off in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The game will stream live on Peacock.
The Pistons are 3.5-point favorites over the Cavaliers on the spread (Pistons -3.5), with the over/under set at 215.5 total points. Detroit is a -148 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Cleveland is +124 to pull off the upset.
The Cavaliers barely survived the Raptors. The Pistons barely survived the Magic. Now they meet in the conference semifinals. Let's get into my Cavaliers vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks for Game 1 on Tuesday, May 5.
Cavaliers vs Pistons Prediction
- Cavaliers vs Pistons pick: Over 215.5 (-108)
My Cavaliers vs. Pistons Game 1 best bet is on the total to go over 215.5 points. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Cavaliers vs Pistons Odds for Game 1
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -118 | 215.5 -108o / -112u | +124 |
| Pistons Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -102 | 215.5 -108o / -112u | -148 |
Cavaliers vs Pistons NBA Playoffs Game 1 Preview
Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Preview, Analysis
Here’s the weird thing: I gave out Pistons -1.5 series spread as my best bet on the preview pod. My model finds value in the market on that number. But in Game 1, I come down on Cavaliers. I price the moneyline at +134 for tonight's series opener. However, there are also matchups and trends to factor in.
I think the Cavs will actually be relieved to face Detroit's defense as opposed to Toronto. The Raptors, with a lower payroll and prestige, could try things outside of the box in terms of switching up coverages and junking up schemes.
The Pistons are a better defensive team, but a more predictable defensive team.
Detroit Pistons Betting Preview, Analysis
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are about to frustrate the Pistons, again. The Cavs’ defense is so much softer than the Magic’s, but their scheme is a bigger problem.
The Magic blitzed Cade Cunningham, trying to force turnovers aggressively — and they did.
The Cavaliers are going to play a base-level, non-blitz scheme, take away the mid-range from Cunningham, and force him to pass, which he will. But the Pistons’ shooting isn’t good enough or built for volume to punish that, at least not yet.
Both of these teams are coming off a Game 7, and while there have been few of those situations since we have betting data for (2003), the home favorite in these spots is 1-4 SU and 0-5 ATS.
Cavaliers vs Pistons Pick, Betting Analysis
Over 215.5
I have concerns about Detroit’s offense, but I do think they’ll generate enough fast-breaks off turnovers to get into speedy situations and boost it up.
Meanwhile, I think Cleveland will have a lot more room for their pick-and-roll game against Detroit’s drop-defense, even if the physicality presents an even tougher challenge.
Game to Go to Overtime
I project the spread for this game inside the number, but just slightly. More importantly, both projections put these teams within one possession of each other.
I gave out 1+ overtime games (+260) in the series and 2+ (+2000) on our series preview pod. I may not bet it every game, but I will try it in the most uncertain game according to series flow.
Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 Points
This is an insane number. I get why; Cade’s awesome. He is a bonafide star and showed it in the Detroit series. But he averaged 18.5 points in 35 minutes per game against Cleveland, showing that it wasn’t just reduced minutes in the regular season, he genuinely struggles to get clean shot attempts against that type of coverage.
In the regular season series, he averaged a 30% turnover rate in pick-and-roll and shot 2-for-12 in isolation.
Evan Mobley held him to 4-of-15 shooting via NBA.com’s admittedly wonky matchup data, and he has a 37% true shooting percentage the last three seasons against Dean Wade and 42% against Jaylon Tyson via DataBallR.com.
I think Cade will generate plenty of assists in this matchup, but not many points, at least not until they work on some sort of solve to get him open.
Jaylon Tyson Over 10.5 Points, Rebounds & Assists
Tyson started the playoffs out of the rotation, and worked his way in with solid play. I think they need him in this matchup.
Wade has done a great job on Cunningham, but they need guard defenders with length who can shoot, and Tyson fits that bill. He went over this line in each of the last five playoff games against Toronto.
Dean Wade Over 4.5 Rebounds & Assists
This old chestnut. He cleared this line in five of the seven playoff games.
Reporters I’ve spoken with have said they expect a heavy dose of Wade in this matchup, and he may return to the starting lineup. He’s a willing passer and active rebounder.
If you want to throw a same game parlay on this 1+ 3PM for him, I like that too, but I just don’t want to mess with the points line against Detroit's vicious interior defense.
Moore's Cavaliers vs Pistons Best Bets for Game 1
- Over 215.5 (-108)
- Game to Go to Overtime (+1200)
- Cade Cunningham Under 28.5 Points (-110)
- Jaylon Tyson Over 10.5 Points, Rebounds & Assists (-112)
- Dean Wade Over 4.5 Rebounds & Assists (-105)
