NBA Expert Picks and Best Bets | December 13

We’ve got your best picks on a wild Wednesday night in the NBA at Michigan sportsbooks. The Detroit Pistons try to stop a 20-game losing streak at home against the Beasts of the East, the Sixers. Do the Pistons have a prayer? The Pacers and Bucks meet again after playing in the NBA Cup semifinals. There’s a big number on the board for the two highest-scoring teams in the league.

Sixers -12 (-108) at FanDuel

History of all the wrong kind can be made tonight in Detroit.

With a loss to the Sixers, the Pistons will tie a franchise record for the longest losing streak in franchise history at 21, matching a mark set over the 1979-80 and 1980-81 season.

Detroit probably isn’t as bad as their 2-21 record would show. They are 9-14 against the spread this season, but they’re playing with zero confidence right now.

Philly destroyed the Wizards 146-101 on Monday night. Joel Embiid is still a beast down low, and let’s face it the Pistons don’t have an answer for him. I could see the Pistons hanging around for a while, but this one is either a Philly blowout from the start, or the Sixers pull away in the fourth. It’s history for Detroit and a big win for the Sixers.

Under 224.5 (-115) at BetMGM

These two teams just played on Monday night with Miami blowing a big lead, but holding on for a 116-114 win.

Miami is 13-10, but has not played great basketball this season. They’ve been without Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo for parts of the season, forcing Jimmy Butler to handle the scoring load.

Charlotte is 7-14 and has slumped since LaMelo Ball went down with an ankle injury. They’re 2-4 with him out of the line-up, but Terry Rozier has played well in his spot. He had 34 in the loss Monday.

Charlotte is 14-7 over/under this season and the Heat are 11-12 against the total, but I believe rematches make teams play better defense the second time around, because they know what’s coming. It also makes players a little chippy. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Charlotte win, but I think it’s a grind and I will take the under.

Under 258.5 (-110) at DraftKings

For weeks we’ve been riding the over at Michigan sportsbooks with the Pacers who are an amazing 17-4 over/under this season, but 258.5 is a lot.

Indiana lost in the finals of the NBA Cup to the Lakers, never really getting the offense going, then came back and beat the Pistons 131-123. That’s a lot of points in an NBA game, but still not 258.

The Pacers have also had the Bucks number this season. They beat them in the NBA Cup semifinals and in the regular season and neither game came close to 258.

Yes, I know these are the two highest scoring teams in the NBA and Giannis Antekokounmpo has been a scoring machine, but I’m taking the under. Milwaukee has won 10 in a row at home, and they owe the Pacers.