Detroit Pistons at Miami Heat NBA Picks & Predictions 3/3/2018

Saturday, March 3, 2018

American Airlines Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Detroit Pistons travel to American Airlines Arena to play the Miami Heat on Saturday, March 3, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 6.5 point favorites.

The Pistons head into this matchup with a mark of 29-32. They are 4th in the Central Division. They currently have a point differential of -0.6 as they are averaging 103.2 points per contest while giving up 103.8 per game. The Heat have an overall record of 32-30. They currently are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 101.3 points per game and surrendering 102.0, good for a point differential of -0.7.

Valuable Detroit Pistons Betting Trends

The Detroit Pistons are 27-32-2 against the spread

The Detroit Pistons are 25-33-3 against the over/under

Important Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 30-28-4 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 27-33-2 against the over/under

Key Detroit Pistons Injuries

12/27/17 PG Reggie Jackson Ankle is out indefinitely
11/25/17 F Jon Leuer Ankle is out for season

Key Miami Heat Injuries

03/01/18 G Tyler Johnson Quad is "?" Saturday vs Detroit
03/01/18 G Wayne Ellington Quad is "?"Saturday vs Detroit
01/12/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out for season

Player Spotlight

Andre Drummond averages 15.1 points per game in 33.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.4 assists per contest and 15.8 rebounds per game for Detroit. His field goal percentage is 54% for the year while his free throw percentage is 63%. Blake Griffin comes into this contest averaging 21.5 points per game while playing 34.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Pistons. He pulls down 7.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is currently at 79%.

Player Spotlight

Hassan Whiteside averages 14 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 25.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 11.8 rebounds per contest and 0.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage is 69%. Goran Dragic averages 17.5 points per game while playing 31.9 minutes per contest this year for the Heat. He grabs 4.1 rebounds per game and has 4.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage currently is at 77%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pistons allow 103.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 9th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 16th and 28th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.2 rebounds a game which ranks 18th, and they give up 24.7 assists per contest which puts them in 27th place in the league. They force 15 turnovers per game which ranks them 22nd in the league. Detroit averages 103.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 24th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.66 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 23rd. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 5th in the league. They average 43.1 rebounds per game and 22.7 assists per game, which ranks them 18th and 15th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 24th with 13.6 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat surrender 102 points per contest, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 7th and 10th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 20.4 assists allowed per contest, and 9th with 42.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Heat are 7th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.7 per game this season. Miami is 28th in the league with 101.3 points per game this year. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -0.71. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 21st in the NBA. They are 20th in the league in rebounding with 42.8 boards per game and 22nd in assists per contest with 22. The Heat are 12th in turnovers per game with 14.7.

Advanced Statistics

The Pistons are 20th in the league in defensive rating with 107.7, and their offensive rating of 107 is ranked 20th. They are 20th in the NBA in pace with 96.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 23rd. As a unit they are 27th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA. Detroit is 24th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 11th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Miami is 6th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 24th in the league. The Heat are 26th in the NBA in offensive rating with 105.9, and their defensive rating of 106.7 is ranked 24th. In terms of pace they are 27th in the league with 95.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 16th. As a team they are 17th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Pistons/Heat NBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Miami -6.5

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