Free Pick: Pelicans vs. Pistons Odds
Looking for New Orleans Pelicans vs. Detroit Pistons Free NBA predictions? NBA betting sees the Pelicans taking on the Pistons on 3/20 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA predictions like this Pelicans Pistons free pick.
2026 NBA Handicapping – New Orleans Pelicans vs. Detroit Pistons
(25-48) New Orleans Pelicans vs. Detroit Pistons (52-20)
Date: Mar 26, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
NBA Moneyline Odds: Pelicans +177 | Pistons -200 (Bet Now!)
Today’s NBA Point Spread Betting Odds: Pelicans +5.5 | Pistons -5.5
NBA Basketball Gambling Total: O/U: 226
Here’s why I’m taking the visiting underdogs in my Pelicans Pistons free pick & gambling prediction for this matchup.
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Pelicans vs. Pistons Gameday
Thursday serves up a super small NBA slate of three games, including the New Orleans Pelicans traveling to Michigan to take on the East’s top-ranked Detroit Pistons.
New Orleans last played on Tuesday, losing 116-121 to the New York Knicks. Six Pelicans scored in double figures, led by Zion Williamson with 22 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
Detroit is completing a back-to-back set, having lost 129-130 in overtime to the Atlanta Hawks. All five starters scored in double figures with Jalen Duren registering a double-double of 26 points and 14 rebounds to lead the way.
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New Orleans Pelicans vs. Detroit Pistons Odds & Last 5
This is the second and final meeting between the clubs this season, with the Pistons up 1-0. Last year, the Pistons won the season series, taking both meetings.
New Orleans has been playing better since the All-Star break having gotten healthier. They are 10-7 since the break, despite two recent losses. The Pelicans sit in the 11th seed in the West, ten games back of the Warriors and half a game up on the Grizzlies.
Detroit has played well despite the absence of Cade Cunningham losing just once since his injury. They are 4-1 through the last five matches and sit in first in the East with a 52-20 record. The Pistons have a four game padding over the Celtics.
The Pistons are favored by a 5.5 point spread with an over/under of 226 points.
Pelicans Stats
New Orleans ranks 20th (113.6) on offense and 24th on defense (117.2). Additionally, the Pelicans hold the 21st-ranked net rating (-3.6) and also run the 11th-quickest pace (100.99).
The West’s 11-place Pelicans average 115.5 points per game while their opponents average 119.2 points. In terms of dimes and boards, New Orleans averages 25.4 (tied for 21st) and 43.9 (14th), respectively.
New Orleans’ team leaders* are Trey Murphy for scoring (21.7), Derik Queen for assists (3.8) and rebounds (6.8), Herb Jones for steals (1.7), and Yves Missi for blocks (1.5).
As for the perimeter, there are three Pelicans who shoot the league average or better, while the team averages 34.8% from deep.
*Minimum 20 games played
**Leads the NBA
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Pistons Stats
Detroit ranks tied for ninth offensively (116.9), second defensively (108.9), and second in net rating (+8.0) while running a pace of 100.01, which ranks 19th in the association.
The East’s top-place Pistons average 27.1 assists (12th) and 45.7 rebounds (eighth). Detroit scores 117.3 points per game while its opponents average 109.5 points.
Team leaders* in the key categories are Cade Cunningham for scoring (24.5), assists (9.9), and steals (1.5), while Jalen Duren leads rebounding (10.5), and Isaiah Stewart leads for blocks (1.6).
Perimeter scoring is a weakness for the Pistons, who shoot with an efficiency of 34.8% as a team, with four players shooting over the league average.
*minimum 20 games
**Leads the NBA
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Detroit Pistons bottom line:
The Pistons seem safe in the top seed, but with the news of Cunningham being out for an undetermined time, there may be an opportunity for the Celtics or Knicks to catch them.
Detroit has the 12th most difficult remaining schedule with 10 games remaining. They’ll face eight against teams currently in the top 10 positions and will play six matches on the road.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Detroit Pistons Basketball Betting Trends
- New Orleans is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New Orleans’ last 7 games.
- New Orleans is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games against Detroit.
- Also, Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Detroit’s last 9 games.
- Additionally, Detroit is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home.
Pelicans Pistons Free Pick: Pelicans +5.5
Here is my Pelicans Pistons free pick.
The Pelicans are playing with house money — not involved in the tanking wars because they don’t own their draft pick and are too far down the ladder to vie for even the play-in, so they are content to play spoilers.
Based on prior lung punctures Cunningham will likely miss the remainder of the season, but be back for the postseason. In the interim, the Pistons need to figure out who can step up to help offensively.
Playing a team with nothing to lose is almost scarier than playing a team desperate to win because they are more relaxed.
That’s the position the Pistons find themselves in and while they are likely to win the conference, this is not the time of year to start piling up losses.
Ultimately, with the rest advantage and devil may care attitude of the Pelicans, I’ll take the points.
Today’s NBA Free Pick
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NBA Betting Tweet Of The Day
Joining ESPN NBA Countdown for All-Star injury updates on Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards. pic.twitter.com/BxMCNtRbk5
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 25, 2026
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