NBA Picks 3/9 – Charlotte Hornets @ Detroit Pistons.
by Thomas Quaynor – NBA analyst for Wannamakeabet.com
A few days ago the worst two teams in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets, played in a battle for Victor Wembanyama, the projected number one pick in the upcoming NBA draft and one of the most hyped draft prospects in history.
Tonight presents us with the Eastern Conference’s version of The Victor Wembanyama Classic when the worst two teams in the East meet up in Detroit, as the Charlotte Hornets (21-46) face the Detroit Pistons (15-51). Charlotte is a 4-point favorite and the total is 225.5. Detroit is a half game ahead of Houston for the worst record in the NBA and enter tonight’s game on a 9-game losing streak, they’ve lost 12 of their last 13 games. Charlotte stunned the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, snapping the Knicks 9-game winning streak.
Charlotte had three players score over 20 in the win, Kelly Oubre Jr. had 27 points, 5 rebounds and a block, Terry Rozier contributed 25 points and 7 assists, and Gordon Hayward totaled 23 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
THE SKINNY ON BOTH TEAMS
Both teams had their seasons derailed early in the year after injuries to their star young guards. Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, the 2021 Rookie of the Year, missed the first 12 games of the year and then suffered a season-ending injury on February 27th, Ball will end up playing just 36 games this year. Ball was outstanding when he was on the floor averaging 23.4 points, 8.4 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals!
Detroit Pistons second year guard Cade Cunningham, the number one overall pick in the 2021 draft, played in just 12 games this year before a shin injury ended his season in November, he averaged 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6 assists per game this year.
Rookie Jaden Ivey, the 5th overall pick in this past draft, is having a solid rookie year averaging 15.4 points and 4.9 assists in 61 games this season. Last month, Detroit traded for Golden State center James Wiseman, the number one overall pick in the 2020 draft (he was taken ahead of LaMelo Ball), he’s shown some potential with the Pistons (11.8pts, 7.8rebs, 1blk in 8 games) after injuries and inconsistent play buried him on Golden State’s bench for most of his time there. Detroit will be without its leading scorer Bojan Bogdanovic (21.6ppg) tonight, he may be shut down for the remainder of the year.
THE PICK
Lay the 4 points with Charlotte
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