NBA Basketball
2026-02-09 - Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NBA Basketball
Monday 9th February 2025 - Scheduled 7pm
12am (British Time)
Preview
One of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference and the NBA in general are moving into the Play In Tournament positions, but the Charlotte Hornets (25-28) are trying to not think too far ahead. With a nine game winning run behind them, they have moved into the Number 10 spot in the Eastern Conference and the Hornets are certainly in a position where they can outperform slumping rivals around them.
During this run, the Hornets have beaten some quality opponents so they are not only making hay against those teams that may already be thinking about the Draft Lottery.
Players are performing with some confidence and happiness, which makes them dangerous, and the Hornets would love to head into the All Star Break with the winning run intact.
Continuing it and pushing it to ten wins in a row is going to be a challenge on Monday when taking on the Detroit Pistons (38-13) who have won six of the last eight games and who lead the Eastern Conference by 5 games. The Pistons crushed the New York Knicks on Friday and have had the weekend away from the court to try and make the adjustments to fit in a couple of new pieces of the roster who arrived before the trade deadline.
The Defensive performances really have to give Pistons fans confidence of what the team can achieve this season and that is going to be important when they play in Charlotte.
Challenging three point shooters is a key to the game- the Hornets have been very confident from that range, but the Pistons have gotten out to those shooters pretty well, although the potential absence of Jalen Duren could be a problem with the activity that Charlotte have shown on the boards at both ends of the court.
The Pistons will need to protect the glass to avoid second chance opportunities and there is a belief they can do that for long enough to give their own powerful Offensive performers an opportunity ti take the game away.
One of the reasons the Hornets have put together a solid winning run is that they have also been pretty good on the Defensive side of the court.
However, this is a really well balanced Detroit team that is not overly reliant on the three point shot and that is where the Pistons look capable of snapping the run the Hornets have been putting together.
Cade Cunningham is still going to be the best player on the court and the Eastern Conference leaders should be well rested, which is key going into the final few days before the All Star Break.
A confident Charlotte team have to be respected, but the Pistons are playing with plenty of that of their own.
Prediction
Lay the points with the road favourite in what looks to be a game that is far more competitive than it would have been if played a month ago.
The Pick :
Charlotte Hornets 104-109 Detroit Pistons
