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NBA · Regular season

New Orleans Pelicans vs Detroit Pistons: Preview and Stats

New Orleans Pelicans 4-8
vs
Detroit Pistons 8-3
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans

Our picks

Our picks for New Orleans Pelicans vs Detroit Pistons come out after the official NBA injury report, at most 48 hours before tip-off, and at the latest (3 hours before tip-off).

We are waiting for the result of a team's previous game.

Our NBA model track record for this matchup

Our winner picks on these teams

  • New Orleans Pelicans 9 of 12 right (75%)
  • Detroit Pistons 9 of 11 right (82%)

Settled NBA winner picks since 20 Oct 2026.

Game details

Stage
NBA, Regular season
Tip-off
Arena
Smoothie King Center
City
New Orleans
Since last match
New Orleans Pelicans: Golden State Warriors Detroit Pistons: San Antonio Spurs
Next match
New Orleans Pelicans: Oklahoma City Thunder Detroit Pistons: Toronto Raptors

Missing production & availability impact

Share of last 10 games' offensive creation (PTS + AST) and minutes sidelined.

New Orleans Pelicans

Official NBA injury report not yet filed for this matchup.

Detroit Pistons

Official NBA injury report not yet filed for this matchup.

Official NBA injury report

New Orleans Pelicans

Official NBA injury report not yet filed for this matchup.

Detroit Pistons

Official NBA injury report not yet filed for this matchup.

Expected 8-man core rotation

Projected starters and key bench from recent usage and the official injury report.

New Orleans Pelicans

Projected Starters
  • F Zion Williamson
    32.9 MPG 21.6 PPG 5.4 RPG 2.7 APG
  • G Jeremiah Fears
    30.1 MPG 16.8 PPG 5.1 RPG 5.7 APG
  • F Trey Murphy III
    33.1 MPG 17.1 PPG 4.7 RPG 4.0 APG
  • G Dejounte Murray
    31.3 MPG 11.7 PPG 4.6 RPG 3.9 APG
  • F Saddiq Bey
    27.6 MPG 15.2 PPG 3.3 RPG 2.7 APG
Key Bench
  • F Herbert Jones
    24.0 MPG 6.0 PPG 3.3 RPG 1.3 APG
  • C Derik Queen
    21.2 MPG 12.4 PPG 5.9 RPG 2.5 APG
  • F-C Karlo Matković
    19.8 MPG 8.7 PPG 4.3 RPG 1.2 APG

Detroit Pistons

Projected Starters
  • G Cade Cunningham
    34.6 MPG 25.3 PPG 5.3 RPG 7.9 APG
  • F Duncan Robinson
    32.2 MPG 17.8 PPG 1.9 RPG 2.2 APG
  • G Daniss Jenkins
    28.6 MPG 14.5 PPG 4.0 RPG 4.4 APG
  • F Paul Reed
    28.1 MPG 12.1 PPG 7.9 RPG 2.2 APG
  • G-F Ausar Thompson
    28.2 MPG 10.0 PPG 8.4 RPG 5.1 APG
Key Bench
  • F-C John Collins
    26.4 MPG 11.1 PPG 6.0 RPG 0.7 APG
  • G-F Kevin Huerter
    23.7 MPG 9.6 PPG 2.3 RPG 2.1 APG
  • G Javonte Green
    17.3 MPG 4.8 PPG 2.1 RPG 0.6 APG

OptimaGoal power & pace ratings

Full NBA power ratings

Neutral-court net point rating and 48-minute tempo rank across all 30 NBA franchises.

New Orleans Pelicans

#24 of 30
Net rating -3.7 30d: -0.3
Pace: -0.7 (#9 of 30)

Detroit Pistons

#4 of 30
Net rating +6.0 30d: -0.3
Pace: -2.6 (#26 of 30)

OptimaGoal tactical & efficiency profile (0–100)

Original 0–100 indices built from each team's last 10 played games before tip-off.

New Orleans Pelicans

Net 28
Shot quality (TS%) 55
3PT volume & accuracy 29
Ball security & passing 24
Rebounding control 40
Defensive disruption 39

ORtg 109.9 · DRtg 117.8 · Net -7.9 · TS 58.5%

Detroit Pistons

Net 71
Shot quality (TS%) 54
3PT volume & accuracy 56
Ball security & passing 48
Rebounding control 41
Defensive disruption 80

ORtg 111.8 · DRtg 104.3 · Net +7.5 · TS 58.3%

New Orleans Pelicans · Record vs point differential W-L record aligned with point differential 4W actual vs 3.6W expected (12 GP)
Detroit Pistons · Record vs point differential W-L record aligned with point differential 8W actual vs 8.0W expected (11 GP)

Halftime splits & clutch profile

Game-state outcomes and half-by-half scoring share over the last 15 games.

New Orleans Pelicans

Win rate when leading at HT 3/5 (60%)
Comeback wins when trailing at HT 2/10 (20%)
Scoring split (1H vs 2H)
1H: 56.9 (47.4%) 2H: 63.3 (52.6%)
Clutch (≤5 pts / OT): 2-3 10+ pt margins: 3-5

Detroit Pistons

Win rate when leading at HT 7/9 (78%)
Comeback wins when trailing at HT 2/6 (33%)
Scoring split (1H vs 2H)
1H: 54.7 (48.3%) 2H: 58.4 (51.7%)
Clutch (≤5 pts / OT): 1-2 10+ pt margins: 6-2

Scoring environment and threshold hit counts across the last 10 games.

NOPDET
Points scored / game 116.4 115.0
Points allowed / game 124.8 107.3
Average game total 241.2 222.3
Average 1st-half total 116.6 109.6
Possessions / 48 min 102.7 100.7
Games with 220+ pts 9/10 4/10
Games with 230+ pts 6/10 4/10
Games with 240+ pts 5/10 1/10
Scored 115+ pts 6/10 5/10

Schedule density & travel spot

Rest days, multi-game compression and current home/road stretch entering tip-off.

New Orleans Pelicans

1 day rest
1 in 4 nights 1 in 6 nights Homestand · Game 2

Detroit Pistons

0 days (Back-to-back)
1 in 4 nights 1 in 6 nights Road trip · Game 2

Primary offensive threats

Available rotation leaders by scoring and shot share over the last 10 games.

New Orleans Pelicans

  • #1 Zion Williamson F 18.6% pts share
    21.6 PPG · 5.4 RPG · 2.7 APG · 0.2 3PM 13.9% FGA
  • #2 Jeremiah Fears G 14.4% pts share
    16.8 PPG · 5.1 RPG · 5.7 APG · 1.2 3PM 16.5% FGA
  • #3 Trey Murphy III F 14.7% pts share
    17.1 PPG · 4.7 RPG · 4.0 APG · 2.4 3PM 13.5% FGA

Detroit Pistons

  • #1 Cade Cunningham G 22.0% pts share
    25.3 PPG · 5.3 RPG · 7.9 APG · 2.1 3PM 20.5% FGA
  • #2 Duncan Robinson F 15.5% pts share
    17.8 PPG · 1.9 RPG · 2.2 APG · 4.0 3PM 13.9% FGA
  • #3 Daniss Jenkins G 12.6% pts share
    14.5 PPG · 4.0 RPG · 4.4 APG · 2.3 3PM 11.5% FGA

Last five games

New Orleans Pelicans

  • L 111-145 vs Brooklyn Nets (H) 12 Nov
  • L 87-138 at Golden State Warriors (A) 10 Nov
  • L 123-139 at LA Clippers (A) 9 Nov
  • L 109-115 vs Minnesota Timberwolves (H) 7 Nov
  • W 120-113 vs Utah Jazz (H) 5 Nov

Detroit Pistons

  • W 144-140 at Washington Wizards (A) 13 Nov
  • W 122-111 vs Washington Wizards (H) 10 Nov
  • L 116-121 vs Los Angeles Lakers (H) 8 Nov
  • L 106-112 vs Philadelphia 76ers (H) 5 Nov
  • W 124-91 at Charlotte Hornets (A) 3 Nov

Most recent first, all games of the season, overtime included.

Last 10 head-to-head meetings

NOP · 6W DET · 4W
Avg total pts: 222.5 NOP avg: 110.2 DET avg: 112.3 225+ pt games: 4/10 NOP at home: 3-2
  • 26 Mar 2026 DET 129‑108 NOP
  • 21 Jan 2026 NOP 104‑112 DET
  • 23 Mar 2025 DET 136‑130 NOP
  • 17 Mar 2025 NOP 81‑127 DET
  • 24 Mar 2024 DET 101‑114 NOP
  • 2 Nov 2023 NOP 125‑116 DET
  • 13 Jan 2023 DET 110‑116 NOP
  • 7 Dec 2022 NOP 104‑98 DET
  • 1 Feb 2022 DET 101‑111 NOP
  • 10 Dec 2021 NOP 109‑93 DET

Season profile comparison

NOPDET
Record 4-8 8-3
At home 3-4 3-2
On the road 1-4 5-1
Conference 12 of 15, Western Conference 3 of 15, Eastern Conference
Streak Lost 4 in a row Won 2 in a row
Days of rest 1 0 (second night of a back-to-back)
Our team rating #25 of 30 #4 of 30
Pace #9 of 30 #25 of 30

Inter-conference matchup — both conference tables shown with Play-off (#6) and Play-in (#10) cut lines.

Western Conference standings

Full NBA standings
# Team W L PCT GB Home Road L10 Streak
1 Los Angeles Lakers 11 2 .846 – 5-1 6-1 8-2 W7
2 San Antonio Spurs 10 2 .833 0.5 4-2 6-0 10-0 W10
3 Houston Rockets 9 3 .750 1.5 6-1 3-2 7-3 W2
4 Minnesota Timberwolves 9 3 .750 1.5 5-1 4-2 7-3 W5
5 Portland Trail Blazers 8 3 .727 2.0 3-2 5-1 7-3 W2
6 Golden State Warriors 8 4 .667 2.5 6-1 2-3 8-2 L1
7 Oklahoma City Thunder 8 4 .667 2.5 5-0 3-4 6-4 L2
8 Memphis Grizzlies 7 4 .636 3.0 2-4 5-0 6-4 L1
9 Denver Nuggets 6 4 .600 3.5 3-2 3-2 6-4 W1
10 Dallas Mavericks 7 5 .583 3.5 5-2 2-3 6-4 L1
11 Phoenix Suns 5 6 .455 5.0 5-3 0-3 5-5 W2
12 New Orleans Pelicans 4 8 .333 6.5 3-4 1-4 4-6 L4
13 LA Clippers 2 8 .200 7.5 2-3 0-5 2-8 L1
14 Sacramento Kings 1 10 .091 9.0 0-6 1-4 1-9 L4
15 Utah Jazz 1 11 .083 9.5 1-6 0-5 0-10 L10

Solid cut lines mark Top 6 (direct Play-offs) and Top 10 (Play-in Tournament).

Eastern Conference standings

Full NBA standings
# Team W L PCT GB Home Road L10 Streak
1 Boston Celtics 10 2 .833 – 5-0 5-2 9-1 W5
2 Philadelphia 76ers 10 3 .769 0.5 5-2 5-1 7-3 W1
3 Detroit Pistons 8 3 .727 1.5 3-2 5-1 7-3 W2
4 Atlanta Hawks 7 5 .583 3.0 3-3 4-2 5-5 L1
5 New York Knicks 6 5 .545 3.5 4-3 2-2 6-4 L1
6 Cleveland Cavaliers 6 6 .500 4.0 4-2 2-4 5-5 W1
7 Miami Heat 5 6 .455 4.5 1-3 4-3 5-5 W2
8 Toronto Raptors 5 7 .417 5.0 2-3 3-4 3-7 L3
9 Orlando Magic 4 7 .364 5.5 0-4 4-3 4-6 W2
10 Charlotte Hornets 4 8 .333 6.0 3-4 1-4 3-7 L1
11 Indiana Pacers 4 8 .333 6.0 1-4 3-4 3-7 W1
12 Washington Wizards 4 9 .308 6.5 2-3 2-6 2-8 L6
13 Brooklyn Nets 3 8 .273 6.5 1-3 2-5 3-7 W1
14 Chicago Bulls 1 9 .100 8.0 0-4 1-5 1-9 L8
15 Milwaukee Bucks 1 11 .083 9.0 1-6 0-5 1-9 L8

Solid cut lines mark Top 6 (direct Play-offs) and Top 10 (Play-in Tournament).

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