Pelicans vs Pistons Prediction, Odds & Game Preview 3/17/2025

The Detroit Pistons roll into the Smoothie King Center looking to shake off back-to-back losses, while the New Orleans Pelicans aim to snap their devastating nine-game skid in Monday night's cross-conference clash.

Detroit's playoff aspirations hang in the balance as they cling to the sixth seed in the East, with Tobias Harris and Dennis Schroder stepping up recently to fill the offensive void left by Jaden Ivey's absence.

The home team Pelicans, playing without several key pieces including potentially Zion Williamson, face an uphill battle against the away team Pistons who've shown marked defensive improvement throughout the season.

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Detroit Pistons preview

The struggling Pelicans host the playoff-hungry Pistons at the Smoothie King Center in what's shaping up to be a tale of two very different seasons.

Detroit's coming in hot under a cloud of controversy after their heated loss to the Thunder, where Cade Cunningham's ejection and five technical fouls left coach Bickerstaff fuming about the officiating.

The Pelicans, meanwhile, can't seem to catch a break - they're riding a nine-game losing streak and might once again be without Zion Williamson, who's been out for personal reasons.

Keep an eye on Dennis Schroder, who's been a spark plug off Detroit's bench with his recent 17-point, 11-assist performance, while CJ McCollum's been carrying the load for New Orleans with impressive numbers despite their struggles.

The matchup presents an interesting contrast on the boards, where Detroit's third-ranked rebounding could feast against a Pelicans team that's been getting dominated on the glass, ranking 27th in the league.

The Pistons haven't tasted victory against New Orleans since February 2021, but this might be their best shot at breaking that curse, especially with the Pelicans looking like they're already thinking about summer vacation.

Detroit's improved defense, now ranking 14th in scoring defense, could be the difference-maker against a Pelicans offense that's been sputtering at 23rd in the league.

With Jaden Ivey out for Detroit and the Pelicans potentially missing several key players including Herbert Jones and Brandon Boston, both teams will need their bench units to step up in this cross-conference clash.