Detroit Pistons vs Houston Rockets

Detroit is showing some competitiveness with new coach J.B. Bickerstaff and the Pistons have won four of six, which would have been the highlight of last season. The Pistons come off a 122-121 thrilling victory over Atlanta on Friday night when Cade Cunningham hit the decisive shot with 8.5 seconds left while totaling 22 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. Detroit's previous home game was a 115-103 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Houston lost 126-107 at Oklahoma City as the Thunder shot 51 percent and led 75-51 at the half. The Rockets are 4-10 ATS the past 14 meetings. Four of their past five road games overall have gone UNDER and nine of Detroit's past 12 games have stayed UNDER. The Pistons are 5-0 ATS their past five as underdogs of 0.5-4.5 points and 7-0 UNDER on Sundays. Take the Pistons and the UNDER.

Houston is outscoring opponents by +2.1, the sixth-best differential in the Western Conference. The vast improvement has come on the defensive end, second in the NBA in points given up (110.6 per game), third in field goal shooting allowed (45.2%), and No. 1 at defending the 3-pointer (33.4%). The Rockets are 9-0 ATS after having lost three of four. The Pistons are on a mind-numbing 1-34 SU, 11-23-1 ATS run. They're without leading scorer Cade Cunningham (knee) and just got blown out at home by San Antonio, 130-108, the second-worst team in the NBA. Detroit is 26th in points given up (123 per game), 26th in field goal shooting allowed (49.6%), and 24th at defending beyond the arc (38.4%). They're getting outscored by minus 11.7 points per contest, the worst differential in the league. Detroit is on a 22-34 spread run at home, plus 3-12 ATS in non-conference action. Play Houston.

Detroit has covered two straight as big underdogs, including a 107-106 loss at Oklahoma City in the last game as a +9.5 dog. Houston is in the rare role of favorite but has lost seven in a row. The Rockets are the second-worst offensive team in the NBA and the fourth-worst in field goal shooting (45.7%), while the defense is 28th in points surrendered and 29th at defending beyond the arc. Houston has two wins as a favorite against San Antonio this season, but lost the other three times as chalk to Orlando (116-110), to San Antonio (124-105), and the Spurs again (a 118-109 loss). The wagering value is on the visitors to win the game. Play Detroit on the moneyline.