Indiana Pacers vs Detroit Pistons Prediction: Pistons to meet the challenge

Indiana has yet to pick up their first win of the regular season, and they will try to rectify the situation in a matchup with Detroit, who is also considered one of the underdogs in the East. Will the Pacers be able to meet this challenge? Let's find out.

Indiana Pacers

Year in and year out, one of Indiana's biggest problems has been the injury-plagued Myles Turner, who has cemented the paint and kept the team from missing much from under the basket. Turner was injured in the pregame warmup, and the Pacers are once again struggling on defense. At this point the coach can't really decide who to replace Myles with, since Jalen Smith and Isaiah Jackson, for example, don't get the full 30 minutes of playing time. Even veteran James Johnson got his chance despute young players being in leading roles in the club now. Bennedict Mathurin made a strong bid for rookie MVP honors, averaging 22.5 points. The Canadian forward is very good at making tough shots from under the basket and also has a three-point shot in his arsenal. Andrew Nembhard has played well in the preseason and has been a worthy backup to Tyrese Haliburton. As for losses, in addition to Turner, Daniel Theis is in the infirmary.

After a seven-point loss to Washington, Rick Carlisle's team fell short at home to San Antonio, 134-137. Despite their high scoring output, Indiana once again struggled to shoot well from beyond the arc, making only 11 of their 35 attempts. On offense, Haliburton and Mathurin led their team with a combined 53 points. Under the basket this time, the team played good defense and over half of the Pacers' points came from the paint.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons did a great job this year in the draft, getting Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey, and the club has even decided to try and swing for a playoff spot. Cade Cunningham hasn't shown much improvement over last season, and his play is a big part of Detroit's bottom line. It was pleasing to see what Saddiq Bey did in the summer, and he could become the Pistons' second option on the attack. The Pistons still have room for improvement, with Alec Burks, Marvin Bagley, and Isaiah Livers still in the infirmary. Burks could improve Detroit's play on both ends of the floor, and Bagley could add some size under the basket. The coach will not use Noel Nerlens for now giving Duren and Stewart a chance.

Last game saw Dwane Casey's team lose to New York with the score 106-130. Only Saddiq Bey, who was Detroit's highest scorer with 26 points, was able to shoot from beyond the arc that night. Ivey, Cunningham, Stewart, Knox and Hayes combined to make only 3 of 22 three-pointers, the primary reason for the Pistons' collapse. The team played poor defense on the fast break and frequently left their opponent at the arc, which also had an impact on the outcome.

Expert Betting Tips

Detroit showed a very mature game against Orlando, and the current opponent is quite comparable to the Magic. Cade Cunningham intelligently directs the offense and creates scoring chances for his teammates, all that's left is for them to improve their execution. The Pistons are capable of getting better from beyond the arc, and a lot will depend on their role players. The Pacers' skill level is noticeable and some players on the roster are unlikely to get much playing time at stronger NBA teams. Mathurin has been a joy to watch so far, but Indiana will be even tougher to beat if he can't shoot. Even against the modest Spurs, the home team's defense has fallen apart and they have struggled without Turner. Here are the betting options for you to consider:

• W2 (incl. OT) for 1.928;
• TO (227.5) for 1.75;
• W2+TO (229.5) for 3.50.

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