Detroit at Cleveland

The Pistons gave up more points last night to Denver than to any team they have faced all season, but they also scored more than they have against any team all season. It really fills the pot chock full of value for tonight's games in Cleveland. The scoring explosion makes the odds-makers rachet it up a notch, from where this total should really be. The general public is thinking big after last nights explosion, as evidenced by this line climbing. Think again! These teams are the epitomy of low scoring teams. The last seven times these teams have met in Cleveland, all have gone UNDER the total! They aren't sneaking under the total either. The last six have gone UNDER by at least 15 points! The games these teams have played in Detroit have been no different. The last 10 times they have met, and the game did not go into overtime, every single one went UNDER. That is 17-0 UNDER the last 17 times these teams have met in a regular season game that did not go OT! The 10 played in Detroit did not eke under the total either, as the average margin under the total has been 15.2 ppg! The 17 games played have seen the highest output between these teams to be 183! The average total points in the 17 games has been 168.8ppg. Detroit has been at their defensive best, after the rare game in which they give up triple digits. They have done so 18 times this season, and have come back to play 12 of 18 under in their next game (67%). The last 14 times they have given up 100+, they have allowed just 86.4 ppg to teams that average 97.3 ppg. That's 12.3 points less than their opponents normally average! These teams combined on the season have played UNDER in 34 of 58 games (59%) when the total is posted in the 180s. Another ugly defensive struggle is in order, and we will play UNDER in this one.