NBA Picks & Parlay of the Weekend | December 30

The goal for the Pistons was to play meaningful basketball this season, and the time has come. It’s just not in the way Detroit fans wanted. The Pistons can set an all-time NBA record with their 29th straight loss when they host the Toronto Raptors tonight at 6 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena. Is this the night The Streak comes to an end? I say yes.

Pistons +4.5 (-110) at BetMGM

The Pistons have become The Story in the NBA. Detroit tied the all-time NBA record for losses with its 28th straight loss to the Celtics, a crushing overtime defeat where Detroit led for most of the game.

Detroit takes on a Raptors team tonight that is last in the Atlantic Division at 12-19. They lost to the Celtics Friday night in a game where they rallied from 15 points down to make it a game in the fourth quarter. Scottie Barnes has been hot for the Raptors, with 30 or more points in three of his last five games.

The Raptors are 2-3 this season in back-to-back games.

But this is it. This is the night. The Pistons have shown real fight in the last few games, only to be derailed by mistakes at the end, but I love them to win and certainly cover. The Detroit crowd will be bonkers, treating this like a Game 7, and the Raptors will come in tired.

Believe it! Take the Pistons plus the points.

Over 25.5 points at BetMGM

It’s been a blessing and curse that the national media has focused on the Pistons the last week, because there is plenty of dysfunction to analyze. The Pistons are assembled poorly – all guards and centers – and have made some poor personnel decisions.

But everyone has also seen what Pistons fans have learned, which is that Cade Cunningham can play. The 6-foot-7 guard is playing his best basketball of his young career. He’s averaged 26 points over his last 10 games, and almost five rebounds. Things seemed to change for him in Atlanta a few weeks ago when he went off for 43 points. Almost like he realized he had to be the Pistons scorer, not facilitator, just get buckets.

Believe it! Cunningham a big night.

Over 110.5 (+110) at BetMGM

Saturday night the Pistons return home where a frenzied crowd will carry them. I like the Pistons over this total. Toronto has won their last five meetings, and scored a season-high 142 points against Detroit a month ago, but the Raptors won’t be sharp after losing to Boston.

Toronto allows 114.5 points a game, 16 th in the NBA, and they don’t really have a perfect match-up for Cunningham at the guard spot. Otto Porter Jr. is probably Toronto’s best defender. He’s 6-foot-8. Veteran Dennis Schroder is only 6-foot-1. If Cunningham has a good night – and I believe he will – the Pistons will go over this number.

Take the Pistons going over to finish up your parlay and celebrate the end of The Streak.