The Brooklyn Nets are looking to push their winning streak to six as they visit the Detroit Pistons. Catch this game live at 7:00 AM on Monday, December 19.
Away: Brooklyn Nets (18-12, 8-7 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Kyrie Irving
- SG: Royce O’Neale
- SF: Kevin Durant
- PF: Ben Simmons
- C: Nic Claxton
The Brooklyn Nets are rolling right now with a 9-1 record in their last 10 games. Their latest battle was a thriller against the Toronto Raptors which saw Kyrie Irving hit a game-winning three.
Irving has been a key figure in the Nets’ current streak and is averaging 26.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in nine games played that span. Irving’s performance has backed up Kevin Durant, who is putting up 31.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.1 blocks over nine games as well. The only game the two missed in this current run was when the Nets sat eight of their key rotation players against the Indiana Pacers and still somehow managed to win.
More importantly, the Nets are looking to have close to a clean bill of health, with only Patty Mills listed as out against the Pistons. Key contributors like Yuta Watanabe, Joe Harris and Seth Curry are all available, which makes the Nets’ offense very dangerous.
Home: Detroit Pistons (8-23, 4-10 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Killian Hayes
- SG: Jaden Ivey
- SF: Bojan Bogdanovic
- PF: Isaiah Stewart
- C: Jalen Duren
The tanking Pistons are 3-7 in their last 10 games and are right about where they should be in the league considering their young core. While they do have seven players averaging double digits in points, led by Bojan Bogdanovic’s 21.1 per game, they’re not under any illusion that they’re world beaters.
Their most recent game saw them take a lead into halftime against the Sacramento Kings, who then responded by outscoring the Pistons 38-23 in the third quarter on the way to a comeback victory. Bogdanovic had his moments in that game and finished with 22 points, but Jaden Ivey struggled and shot 2 of 9 in 20 minutes of action.
Jalen Duren had a strong game with 15 points and 14 rebounds, while three other Pistons players scored in double digits. While the Pistons can be a scrappy team on the defensive end, if they struggled containing Sacramento, they’ll have trouble containing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
PREDICTION:
Spread: The Nets look good to cover -7.5
Over/Under: The Over 230 looks good.
