With a four-game Thursday slate in the books, the NBA returns with an action-packed crop of Friday matchups. One particular bout in the East sees the feisty Hawks hit the road to take on the conference-leading Pistons.
Friday night’s game (7:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV) features plenty of fun players, even with star PG Trae Young and others banged up. This early in the season, an intra-conference showdown like this one can have still serious seeding implications down the line.
Below, we’ll break down a Hawks vs. Pistons prediction and picks to consider for Friday night’s game. Use PrizePicks NBA to make player picks and win money if you’re right.
Hawks vs. Pistons Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
There’s been a ton of action between these two teams over the years. Friday marks the 452nd meeting between the Hawks and Pistons, and the series is closer than you might think. With Detroit leading 230-221, it’s a tightly-contested competition.
On the injury front, as mentioned, PG Trae Young (knee) is out once again for the Hawks. C Kristaps Porzingis (illness) is, too, in addition to SF Jacob Toppin (shoulder). On the Pistons’ side, PF-C Isaac Jones (knee) is about the only noteworthy projected absence for Friday.
Hawks vs. Pistons Over/Under, Spread
The Hawks enter Friday’s game as 9.5-point road underdogs, returning a 3.22x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Pistons are home favorites with a 1.29x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Detroit Pistons -9.5
- Over/Under: 232.5
- Game Winner Payout: Hawks 3.22x | Pistons 1.29x
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Hawks vs. Pistons Prediction on Over/Under
- Despite missing one of the game’s most dynamic playmakers, the Hawks rank 11th in per-game scoring (118.0 points) and love to get out and run, sitting fourth in fastbreak scoring (18.2 PPG).
- Atlanta is quite the unselfish group, pacing the field in assists per game (30.8) and being second in assists per made field goal (0.709).
- Friday’s matchup contains two clubs in the top 12 of Player Impact Estimate (PIE), with Detroit being fifth and Atlanta 11th.
- No team packs the paint better than the Pistons at 57.1 PPG.
- A solid 56.5% of the Pistons’ games have gone over their projected total this year, good for ninth in the NBA. The Hawks sit right behind them at 56.0%.
Hawks vs. Pistons NBA Picks, Stats for PrizePicks Today
Here are three top Hawks vs. Pistons picks to target on Friday. Key PrizePicks player projections are headlined by F Jalen Johnson, C Jalen Duren, and PG Cade Cunningham.
Hawks F Jalen Johnson vs. Pistons Projection: 42.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- In year five with the Hawks, Johnson averages a combined 41.8 points, rebounds, and assists. Since Young went down, that PRA mark is up to 44 in 18 games.
- Despite a career-high 26.1% usage rate, Johnson’s true shooting percentage of 63.3 is by far a new personal best.
- Among all forwards, the former Duke standout’s 16.5 rebound chances per game rank sixth.
- Per NBA, Johnson’s shiny 32.6% assist clip ranks 10th among all qualified players this season.
Pistons C Jalen Duren vs. Hawks Projection: 30.5 Pts + Rebs
- On the year, Duren averages 30.3 combined points and rebounds.
- Duren remains effective at the rim (67.5 field goal percentage) but can also score almost as efficiently from 3-10 feet (66.0%).
- Via NBARAPM, Duren’s 23.4 points per 75 puts him in the 91st percentile, clearing his previous best mark of the 66th percentile in 2024 and 2023.
- As a team, the Pistons rank fourth in offensive rebounds (13.6 per game) and ninth in defensive rebounding (33.1).
Pistons PG Cade Cunningham vs. Hawks Projection: 35.5 Pts + Asts
- It’s already the fifth season of Cunningham, and he’s making the most of it by averaging 36.8 combined points and assists.
- Out of all players netting 20+ minutes per night, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy’s 30.5% usage rate is 12th.
- Cunningham’s 37.1 true shot attempts per 100 and 22.3 potential assists per 100 put him in the 95th and 97th percentiles, respectively, according to databallr.
- Per FantasyPros, the Hawks give up the seventh-most PPG (27.27) and 10th-most RPG (8.88) to the PG position.
Make Hawks vs. Pistons Picks on PrizePicks
Hawks vs. Pistons isn’t the only avenue basketball fans have to make NBA picks. With PrizePicks, you can earn real-money rewards for your predictions if you’re right.
Just choose players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and follow the hoops action to see if your picks hit.
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