La Clippers vs Detroit Pistons Picks and Predictions March 5th 2025

LA Clippers vs Detroit Pistons March 5th 2025

At 10:30 ET, the Pistons (-194) will travel to Inglewood to take on the Clippers (+162) in a non-conference matchup. Detroit is currently favored by 5 points and has won two straight games. The Clippers are 9th in the Western Conference and have lost three in a row.

This game will be played at the Intuit Dome and can be seen on FDSS. The over/under line is set at 219.5.

Pistons vs. Clippers Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Clippers
• Where: Inglewood at Intuit Dome
• Date: Wednesday, March 5th
• Betting Odds DET -5, DET -194 | LAC +162 O/U 219.5

The Pistons Can Win If…

Detroit improved to 35-27 on the season with a dominant 134-106 win over the Jazz on Monday. The Pistons, who were favored by -10.5, covered the spread with the 28-point victory. The combined score of 240 points went over the pre-game total of 232.

A 14-0 run by the Pistons turned an early 18-16 lead into a 30-18 advantage. Detroit took control by outscoring Utah 36-22 in the 1st quarter and 31-25 in the 2nd. They entered the 4th quarter with a 98-77 lead and closed out the game by outscoring the Jazz 36-29 in the final period.

The Pistons shot 55.4% from the field in their win over the Jazz, despite hitting just 26.8% from three-point range. Cade Cunningham led the way with 29 points and 9 assists, while Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren both shot 100% from the field, with Thompson adding 17 points and Duren contributing 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Cunningham scored 11 of his points in the 2nd quarter, while Thompson added 9 points in the 4th. Malik Beasley also had a strong 1st quarter with 8 points, and Tim Hardaway added 8 points in the 3rd.

The Pistons put together a solid defensive effort, holding the Jazz to 106 points on 42% shooting. Detroit allowed 22 points in the 1st quarter and 25 in the 2nd, then gave up 30 in the 3rd and 29 in the 4th.

Detroit limited Utah’s three-point shooting, allowing just 10 made threes at a 30% clip. The Pistons also recorded 16 steals and 8 blocks in the game.

• Although Detroit has a straight up record of 7-3 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 7-3. The team averaged 121 points per game in these games.
• The Pistons have played well in their last three games as the betting favorite, going 2-1 straight up and 2-1 against the spread.
• Over their last three games, the Pistons have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

The Clippers Can Win If…

After a 119-117 loss to the Suns on Tuesday, the Clippers are now 32-29 this season. L.A. was favored by 2.5 points but didn’t cover the spread. The total score of 236 points exceeded the over/under line of 223.5 by 12.5 points.

The Clippers appeared to be in control after outscoring the Suns 41-19 in the 2nd quarter and leading 95-76 going into the 4th. However, Phoenix went on a 12-0 run and outscored L.A. 43-22 in the final period to complete the comeback.

In their 119-117 loss to the Suns, the Clippers shot 51.8% from the field, but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 8 threes at a 26.7% rate. Ivica Zubac led the way with 35 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 78.9% from the floor.

Kawhi Leonard and James Harden each added 21 points, with Harden also dishing out 15 assists. Zubac scored 10 points in both the 3rd and 4th quarters, while Bogdan Bogdanović contributed 13 points, including 7 in the 2nd quarter.

Defensively, the Clippers had a strong 2nd quarter, holding the Suns to just 19 points, but a 43-point 4th quarter ultimately led to their 119-117 loss. They allowed Phoenix to shoot 51% from the field.

The Suns hit 14 threes at a 41% clip. The Clippers sent the Suns to the line 27 times, where they made 23 free throws. Los Angeles gave up 7 offensive rebounds while recording 8 steals and 3 blocks.

• Through their last ten home games, Los Angeles has an ATS record of just 0-10. However, their overall record was 3-7 while averaging 110 points per game.
• Looking back on the team’s last three games as the underdog, the Clippers have a straight up record of 0-3. Their record vs the spread in these games was 0-3.
• In their last five games, the Clippers have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.

The Lean

We’re calling a win for the Pistons, with a final score of 115-78, and we’re taking them to cover the spread. Our recommendation is to bet on the Pistons at -5.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 219.5, and our model predicts the Pistons and Clippers to score a combined 193 points. We recommend betting on the under.

High-Octane Pistons Look to Stay Hot vs. Clippers

The Detroit Pistons continue to defy expectations as they head to Los Angeles on Wednesday to face a struggling Clippers team that is coming off a crushing collapse against Phoenix.

Pistons Riding One of NBA’s Best Runs

Detroit has been on an incredible stretch, winning 10 of its last 11 games—a streak second only to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 11-game run.

Since falling to Cleveland on Feb. 5, the Pistons have won five consecutive road games, including a dominant 134-106 victory at Utah on Monday.

• Cade Cunningham (29 points, 9 assists) and Jalen Duren (16 points, 12 rebounds) led the charge.
• Detroit shot 55.4% from the field, the ninth time in 14 games since February that they have surpassed 50% shooting.

Cunningham has been Detroit’s offensive engine, averaging 25.3 points per game, while Duren has dominated the glass, posting 10.3 rebounds per game to go along with 11.2 points.

Since Jan. 16, Duren has been even better, averaging 14.1 points and 12.0 rebounds, helping Detroit fill the void left by Jaden Ivey, who has been out since Jan. 3 with a broken leg.

Staying Focused Amid Sudden Success

The Pistons haven’t had a winning record in five seasons, and last year, they endured their worst season in franchise history (14-68, .171 winning percentage).

Yet, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has kept his team grounded despite its recent surge, which included a statement 117-97 win over the defending-champion Boston Celtics last week.

“They’ve done a really good job of staying in the moment and that shows a ton of maturity,” Bickerstaff said. “It shows the character of the guys. We don’t have big-headed guys. We have guys who live in reality and understand the ups and downs of the game.”

Clippers Reeling After Another Late Collapse

While Detroit is surging, Los Angeles (2-6 in its last eight games) continues to struggle with closing out games, the latest example being a 119-117 road loss to Phoenix on Tuesday.

The Clippers led by 23 points in the third quarter and 19 in the fourth, but collapsed down the stretch as the Suns used a 13-4 run to tie the game at 106-106 and held Los Angeles to one field goal in the final two minutes.

Head coach Tyronn Lue was blunt about the team’s late-game failures.

“Play through the game, play the game the right way,” Lue said. “… Not force, not do dumb (expletive). It’s that simple.”

Zubac’s Career Night Not Enough

Despite the loss, Ivica Zubac had a career-high 35 points and 10 rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard and James Harden each added 21 points.

Los Angeles was without Norman Powell, who has missed six of the last seven games due to a knee injury and now a hamstring strain.

Meanwhile, Ben Simmons (knee) was also sidelined Tuesday and is not expected to play Wednesday.

Dive into the Latest NBA Western Conference Betting Odds and Detailed Expert Predictions for the Season

What’s at Stake?

• For Detroit: Another road win would continue one of the NBA’s best hot streaks and further solidify the team’s newfound confidence.
• For the Clippers: Avoiding another late-game collapse is critical, as they return home for the first time since Feb. 12 after a disastrous 2-6 road stretch.

With one team on fire and the other struggling to find answers, this matchup at Crypto.com Arena could further validate Detroit’s resurgence or help the Clippers regain their footing.