After losing an NBA-record 28 consecutive games, the Detroit Pistons finally got back in the win column Dec. 30, beating the Raptors. Since then, it’s been more of the same as Detroit has dropped its last seven. The Pistons have been even worse on the road, having lost 18 straight since beating Charlotte before Halloween.
The Wizards have not been much better. Washington snapped a six-game losing streak with a 28-point victory in Atlanta on Saturday. Can they cover as a favorite Monday and win back-to-back contests for the first time since last March?
Here’s the betting preview for Monday’s matchup one day after the two teams completed a four-player trade that included a pair of second-round draft picks.
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Pistons vs. Wizards odds, spread and total
Pistons vs. Wizards how to watch
- Date: Monday, Jan. 15
- Game time: 3 p.m.
- Venue: Capital One Arena
- How to watch (TV): Bally Sports
- Pistons record: 3-36
- Wizards record: 7-31
Pistons vs. Wizards injury reports
Detroit Pistons injury report
- Bojan Bogdanovic (calf): questionable
- Mike Muscala (traded): out
- Danilo Gallinari (traded): out
- Cade Cunningham (knee): out
- Monte Morris (quad): out
Washington Wizards injury report
- Johnny Davis (illness): questionable
- Marvin Bagley III (traded): out
- Isaiah Livers (traded): out
Pistons vs. Wizards key players to watch
Detroit Pistons
Jaden Ivey: With Detroit’s lengthy injury report, Ivey is the player to watch in the Pistons’ backcourt Monday. The second-year guard is coming off his best performance since the calendar flipped, turning in a plus/minus of +7 with 18 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds in the loss to San Antonio.
Kevin Knox II: The small forward is averaging 8.8 points per game this season but played a season-high 35 minutes as a starter in Detroit’s loss to Houston on Friday. He set season-highs with 19 points (7-of-9 shooting) and 7 rebounds and has now scored in double figures in four of his last five games.
Washington Wizards
Kyle Kuzma: Kuzma has been the most consistent player for Washington this season having started all 38 games. He’s averaging a career-high 22.4 points, 4.2 assists and is shooting a career-best 46% from the field to go with 6.2 rebounds per night. He has scored 20-plus points in three of the last four games, which includes a 22-point, 15-rebound double-double against Oklahoma City Jan. 8 and a 29-point outing on Saturday to lead the Wizards past Atlanta.
Pistons vs. Wizards prediction and pick
None of the players traded between these two franchises will suit up on Monday, which is bad news for Detroit given that help is not on the way. Monte Morris remains out until the end of this month and star guard Cade Cunningham will miss his fourth straight game.
With Cunningham sidelined, Detroit has lost three consecutive games by an average of 15 points. These two teams are both bottom five in the NBA in scoring defense, but Washington, which ranks 12th in the NBA in field goal percentage (47.9%) will have the ability to take advantage of the matchup. Detroit is third-worst in the NBA in shooting from the perimeter.
Washington is a favorite for just the third time this season, but Detroit’s injury report makes the Wizards the pick.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change