NBA Expert Picks and Best Bets | January 24

Things have gotten crazy in the NBA with Joel Embiid scoring 70 points, the Bucks firing their coach and now, maybe the wildest thing of all, the Detroit Pistons are favored to win tonight. Let’s look back on the last time the Pistons were favored and how things will go against Charlotte. Plus, the Suns have won six in a row as they head to Dallas.

Hornets +3 (-112) at FanDuel

You see it right. The Detroit Pistons are favored tonight at Michigan Sportsbooks.

The 4-39, last place in the Eastern Conference Pistons are the favorites.

It’s just the fourth time this season Detroit is favored. The last time was Dec. 21 against the Jazz when the Jazz were basically starting their B team because of injuries. The Jazz still won 119-111.

There is good news for the Pistons. Cade Cunningham is supposed to come back today. Monte Morris will make his season debut. Detroit played well in two losses to the Bucks. Detroit is 5-0 in their last five against the spread. But favored?

Charlotte isn’t good. They’re 10-31, an injury to LaMelo Ball set them back this season, but Ball is back and they’ve won two of three. They are coming off a win over the T’Wolves, but then traded away second-leading scorer Terry Rozier Wednesday to Miami. But a chance to take anyone and the points against the Pistons is too much to pass up.

Over 235.5 (-115) at BetMGM

The Bucks made major NBA news Tuesday firing first year coach Adrian Griffin. The Bucks are (checks notes) 30-13 and second in the Eastern Conference.

Man, that’s tough to get fired with that kind of record. Clearly the players wanted a change, even if they were winning. All reports are Doc Rivers will be the Bucks new coach maybe by the time you read this.

The Bucks are 1-9 in their last 10 against the spread, but let’s talk over. Milwaukee scores a lot of points. They’re 26-17 over/under this year. In five of their last six wins, they’ve gone over 120 points.

Cleveland has won eight straight, and stomped the Bucks by 40 in Cleveland a week ago. The Cavs are only 19-21-1 over/under, but this game just screams over to me. The Bucks will want to run it up for their new coach and Cleveland and Donovan Mitchell will be happy to oblige.

Suns -1.5 (-110) at DraftKings

Somebody might have woken up the Suns.

Phoenix was one of the biggest disappointments in the NBA early on, but have now won six in a row, and are 11-3 in their last 14 games rising to sixth in the West. Kevin Durant is still good for almost 30 a night and Devin Booker had 52 the other night in New Orleans.

This is the first game of a seven-game road trip for the Suns.

Dallas whacked the Suns on Christmas by 14 points, but have lost three of their last four games. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are both questionable with minor injuries. My guess is they’ll probably play, but always check. When the line is this close, I like to look at it almost as a pick’em, and I like the hot Suns.