Charlotte at Detroit

NBA Game of the Year - Charlotte and Atlanta are trying to fend off Washington and New York for the final two playoff slots in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte has lost six straight against likely playoff teams that are currently No. 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 in the East, plus No. 8 in the West. Now they catch a break in the schedule facing the worst team in the NBA. Charlotte is fourth in the league in scoring, Top 10 from three-point land, and 12-5 ATS as a road favorite. They're also 41-14-1 ATS against teams with a winning percentage below .400, including 20-6 ATS on the road versus a team with a home winning percentage under .400. Plus, Charlotte is 40-21 ATS the last three seasons vs. bad offensive teams like Detroit (those scoring under 109 points per game). Under James Borrego, the Hornets are 50-32 ATS following back-to-back losses and 29-16 ATS vs. terrible teams that are being outscored by opponents by 6+ points per game. Detroit is getting outscored by 10 points per game, the worst differential in the league. The Pistons are #26 in points surrendered, #27 in field goal defense, and last at defending the three-pointer (37.4%) while the offense is second to last in scoring, field goal, and three-point shooting. Second-leading scorer, guard Cade Cunningham, the top pick in last year's draft, has missed five straight due to a hip pointer. While Charlotte is working on a day of rest, the Pistons had to play last night, losing 132-107 at home to Memphis while getting outrebounded 60-40. The Hornets crushed the Pistons back on January 1 by a score of 140-111, and Detroit is just 30-46 ATS the past three seasons when revenging a same-season loss. Detroit is on a 0-6 SU, 1-5 ATS slide, and Charlotte is 19-9 ATS against teams that get outscored by three or more points per contest. It's a great matchup and situation for a hungry Charlotte squad that is 8-2 ATS against Detroit after vaporizing the Pistons last month, 140-111. Back Charlotte for my Game of the Year.