NBA Sunday Tips: Misfiring Pistons will be shut off by the Knicks

The Detroit Pistons’ youth club has shown flashes of promise, but it will be a race to the bottom as New York thinks big. Mark Woods previews Sunday’s NBA games.

New York Knicks @ Detroit Pistons

Tipoff: 6pm Sunday GMT (Sky Sports Arena)

The New York Knicks can sweep this season over the Detroit Pistons with a win, but that’s not exactly a bragging point given the lack of va-va-voom in Motor City.

Then again, despite their position as one of the worst teams in the entire NBA, the oddity of Detroit is that they cannot simply be regarded as a token opponent with eyes more on the Draft Lottery than making a case for the playoffs. 

Young, talented but injury-smacked and bereft of experience, the Pistons have demonstrated a weird ability to surprise. Losers of 11 out of 15 heading into this weekend, their conquests have included beating the Warriors and the Timberwolves (twice). No matter that over that spell, their average points differential has been a horrific -8.6 while conceding an abysmal 119.6 per contest. Hope, somehow, keeps springing eternal.

New York should feel upbeat about a Sunday celebration, however. 12-8 on the road, they pulled out four wins out of five following a four-game skid around Christmas. Their defence has re-clicked into gear and has given up 110.8 per night, albeit against mid-tier foes. 

They’re also an outlier in one unique way: their points differential this term is +2.8 in both halves, which is a consistency in itself. With the Pistons normally lacking a punch, taking the Knicks -4 seems secure, but better value might come in the under.

Prediction: Under 227 points @ 1.91

Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Clippers

Tipoff: 8pm Sunday GMT

Forget the cliches of Houston having a problem: that’s simply too easy and cruel. The Rockets possess the NBA’s worst record, on a differential that’s second only to the Spurs. They lead (or trail, depending on whether your glass is half-full) the league in turnovers. And on fast breaks, they provide all the resistance of a damp cloth. 

The youth movement in Houston is getting a nightly painful education with one victory out of 14 games approaching this weekend. Not even coming close, they have been within 10 points of opponents as an average in that spell and scored at a clip of just 107.1. In the free-scoring NBA, the Rockets are the retro-fitter.

With injuries, the LA Clippers haven’t fizzled either. Losing six straight in a recent stretch, they are clinging onto a .500 record. But the cavalry has arrived in the form of Kawhi Leonard, who scored 33 in a solid Thursday defeat of Dallas by 12 points.

That could spell better days and provide a reason to take LA’s second team at -7 with the Rockets mis-firing again. Again, though, I want the under total points in this match-up.

Prediction: Under 221 points @ 1.91

Golden State Warriors @ Chicago Bulls

Tipoff: 8.30pm Sunday GMT (Sky Sports Arena)

Things have been so bleak in Golden State that the champs were looking at Friday’s trip to San Antonio for light relief. That’s what happens when you manage to lose to the lowly Suns, Pistons and Magic in succession after five triumphs on the bounce suggested all problems had been cured.

Will the real Dubs stand up? Even with Steph Curry back, the swagger is uncertain and the case for a repeat championship unconvincing with the markets now only giving the Warriors a 10.64% chance of partying in June.

Steph Curry: potentially back for the Golden State Warriors

It’s an awkward trip to Chicago on Sunday too. The Bulls should be better than a sub-.500 team and quality wins in recent days over Utah, Philadelphia and Brooklyn underlined potential unrealised. The issue is that they are average at almost everything and great at nothing, with chemistry issues in full glare.

At home, they were an unremarkable 11-9 over their first 20 games. Yet, with Golden State avoiding road wins like a bad smell, the Windy City might see the Warriors blown away. 

Prediction: Bulls Money Line @ 2.7

NBA Sunday Tips 

New York @ Detroit: Under 227 points @ 1.91
Houston @ LA Clippers: Under 221 points @ 1.91
Golden State @ Chicago: Bulls Money Line @ 2.7