The NBA action heats up on March 17, 2025, as the Detroit Pistons travel to the Smoothie King Center to take on the New Orleans Pelicans in a cross-conference showdown. The Pistons, sitting comfortably at 6th in the Eastern Conference with a 37-31 record, are looking to solidify their playoff positioning. Meanwhile, the Pelicans, struggling at 14th in the West with an 18-50 record, are playing for pride and hoping to play spoiler in front of their home crowd.
This game promises intrigue, as the Pistons bring a balanced attack and strong defense, while the Pelicans aim to overcome a slew of injuries and find a way to compete. With key players like Jaden Ivey sidelined for Detroit and Zion Williamson’s status up in the air for New Orleans, both teams will need to rely on depth and strategy to come out on top.
Will the Pistons continue their push toward the postseason, or will the Pelicans rise to the occasion and pull off an upset at home? Let’s dive into the numbers, trends, and predictions to break down this exciting matchup!
AI Model Predictions
| Model | Predicted Score (Pistons vs. Pelicans) | Spread Pick | Total (Over/Under 232.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetQL | 118-110 (Pistons win) | Pistons -6.5 | Under 232.5 |
| ESPN | 115-108 (Pistons win) | Pistons -6.5 | Under 232.5 |
| SportsLine | 120-112 (Pistons win) | Pistons -6.5 | Over 232.5 |
| FiveThirtyEight | 116-109 (Pistons win) | Pistons -6.5 | Under 232.5 |
| TeamRankings | 117-111 (Pistons win) | Pelicans +6.5 | Under 232.5 |
Average Prediction:
- Pistons: 117.2
- Pelicans: 110.0
- Spread: Pistons -6.5
- Total: Under 232.5
Pythagorean Theorem
The Pythagorean theorem estimates a team’s expected winning percentage based on points scored and allowed:
Pistons:
- Points Scored: 112.5 (season average)
- Points Allowed: 108.3 (season average)
- Win % = 52.1%
Pelicans:
- Points Scored: 105.8 (season average)
- Points Allowed: 116.7 (season average)
- Win % = 45.2%
The Pistons have a stronger expected win percentage, aligning with their higher standing.
Strength of Schedule
- Pistons: 6th in the East, facing strong and weak opponents. Their schedule difficulty is slightly above average.
- Pelicans: 14th in the West, facing a tougher schedule due to the competitive Western Conference.
The Pistons’ performance is slightly more impressive when adjusting for strength of schedule.
Injuries and Trends
Pistons:
- Jaden Ivey (Out): A key scorer and playmaker, his absence will hurt their offensive efficiency.
- Trends: They lost to the Thunder recently, but overall, they’ve been competitive against stronger teams.
Pelicans:
- Zion Williamson (Questionable): If he plays, it’s a huge boost; if not, their offense suffers significantly.
- Kelly Olynyk (Questionable): A versatile big man whose absence would hurt their frontcourt depth.
- Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray (Out for Season): Major defensive and offensive losses.
- Trends: Struggling with injuries and poor performance, losing to the Spurs recently.
Recent News
- Zion Williamson’s status is uncertain due to personal reasons. If he doesn’t play, the Pelicans’ offense will struggle even more.
- The Pistons are relatively healthy aside from Ivey’s absence.
Final Score Prediction
Combining the AI models’ average prediction with adjustments for injuries, strength of schedule, and recent trends:
- Predicted Score:
- Pistons: 116
- Pelicans: 108
Pick
- Take the Detroit Pistons -6.5 points.
