NBA Lock Alert – Detroit at New Jersey

The Detroit Pistons (36-38 SU, 32-42 ATS, 34-38-2 O/U) and the New Jersey Nets (30-44 SU, 37-36-1 ATS, 38-36 O/U) will battle at the Izod Center at 7:30 PM ET tonight.

Detroit had its modest two-game winning streak snapped in its 79-73 loss to Cleveland on Tuesday night. The Pistons managed to cover the spread as 10-point road underdogs while the final score played under the 178.5-point O/U total.

Veteran shooting guard Richard Hamilton led Detroit with 13 points and six rebounds in the loss.

New jersey dropped its fifth straight game in getting routed by the Milwaukee Bucks 107-78 on Monday night.

The Nets failed to cover the spread as 3-point home favorites while the game played under the 197.5-point O/U total.

Second-year forward Yi Jianlian scored a team-high 11 points for the Nets.

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and NBA Free Picks.

Detroit is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing New Jersey

Detroit is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing New Jersey

The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit’s last 7 games when playing New Jersey

Detroit is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against New Jersey

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey’s last 5 games at home

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of New Jersey’s last 7 games

The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Jersey’s last 7 games when playing Detroit

New Jersey is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Detroit

NBA Odds

Detroit Pistons +1½ -110

New Jersey Nets -1½ -110

Over 186½ -110

Under 186½ -110

Analysis: The Detroit Pistons don’t impress me very much these days but they are the easy pick here to take down the struggling Nets and maintain their current playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

While the loss of veteran point guard Chauncey Billups has thrown the Pistons for a bigger loop than they ever expected – and sent them into an immediate state of mediocrity – they will beat the Nets in this contest and cover the spread while doing so.

NBA Free Picks: Pistons +1½ Points/Under 186½ Total Points