The Detroit Pistons' quest to hold onto the Eastern Conference's coveted sixth seed faces its next test as they welcome the injury-plagued New Orleans Pelicans to Little Caesars Arena on Sunday afternoon.
While Detroit rides the momentum of winning four of their last seven games behind Cade Cunningham's explosive 25.7 points per game, the Pelicans limp into town having dropped eight of their last nine contests and potentially missing key players Zion Williamson, Jose Alvarado, and Yves Missi.
The matchup feels eerily familiar to last week's lopsided affair where the home team Pistons dominated the away team Pelicans 127-81, though Sunday's matinee could tell a different story.
Detroit Pistons vs. New Orleans Pelicans prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Detroit Pistons vs New Orleans Pelicans matchup, our predictive model gives the Pistons an 80% chance of defeating the Pels.
Pre-game probabilities
Detroit Pistons
Moneyline
Win %
80%
20%
New Orleans Pelicans
Detroit Pistons: 80% win probability
- Superior offensive output (8169 goals scored vs Pelicans' 7829)
- Better win-loss record (39-32 compared to Pelicans' 19-52)
- Stronger recent form (LWWLL vs Pelicans' LWLLL)
New Orleans Pelicans: 20% win probability
- Poor defensive record (8467 goals against, 3rd worst in Western Conference)
- Struggling road performance (14th place in Western Conference)
- Negative point differential (-638, second-worst in their conference)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model brings together insights from top NBA experts. Instead of searching through countless expert analyses online, you can rely on our predictions to capture the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing expert picks, data, and trends, while our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. These confidence levels are then averaged to generate an 'expert opinion' win probability—providing a data-driven reflection of the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NBA analysts..
| Detroit Pistons | New Orleans Pelicans | |
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Detroit Pistons vs. New Orleans Pelicans preview
The struggling Pelicans roll into Little Caesars Arena this Sunday afternoon looking to snap out of a brutal slump that's seen them drop eight of their last nine games.
Detroit's been riding high in the East's sixth spot, and they've got to be feeling confident after absolutely demolishing these same Pelicans 127-81 in their last matchup just a week ago.
Cade Cunningham's been on an absolute tear for the Pistons, coming off a 35-point masterclass against Dallas, while continuing to dish out assists at an elite clip with over 9 per game.
The Pelicans' offense has hit rock bottom, coughing up 26 turnovers in their last game against Minnesota - that's the kind of sloppy basketball that's killing their chances to compete.
With Zion Williamson's status up in the air and key players like Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones sidelined, CJ McCollum might have to shoulder an enormous offensive load for New Orleans.
The Pistons' home court has been a fortress lately, with the team winning their last five at Little Caesars Arena following road losses - perfect timing after their recent stumble in Dallas.
While history shows the Pelicans have historically had Detroit's number at Little Caesars Arena with six wins in their last seven visits, this depleted New Orleans squad barely resembles those previous teams.
Keep an eye on Jalen Duren working the glass for Detroit - he's been a force with over 10 boards per game, and could feast against a Pelicans frontcourt that's been getting pushed around lately.
Detroit Pistons vs. New Orleans Pelicans form
Detroit Pistons vs. New Orleans Pelicans head to head
Detroit Pistons
20%
New Orleans Pelicans
80%
Mar 23, 2025
Detroit Pistons
0 : 0
New Orleans Pelicans
Mar 18, 2025
New Orleans Pelicans
81 : 127
Detroit Pistons
Mar 24, 2024
Detroit Pistons
101 : 114
New Orleans Pelicans
Nov 3, 2023
New Orleans Pelicans
125 : 116
Detroit Pistons
Jan 14, 2023
Detroit Pistons
110 : 116
New Orleans Pelicans
Dec 8, 2022
New Orleans Pelicans
104 : 98
Detroit Pistons
