Detroit Pistons chase fifth straight win over New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans meet Detroit Pistons at Smoothie King Center, Thursday 12:00pm (NBA). New Orleans Pelicans have won 18 of the 26 meetings with Detroit Pistons since 2013.
The big picture
New Orleans Pelicans come in 23rd on the ladder; Detroit Pistons are 9th. Detroit Pistons are the side higher up the table.
New Orleans Pelicans are 4–5 in NBA 2026-27, averaging 120.2 points for and 118.8 against.
Detroit Pistons are 6–2 in NBA 2026-27, averaging 111.1 points for and 101.8 against.
Form
New Orleans Pelicans have won four of their last five and most recently lost to Minnesota Timberwolves 109–115.
Detroit Pistons have won three of their last five and most recently lost to Philadelphia 76ers 106–112.
Head to head
These sides have met 26 times on our records since 2013: New Orleans Pelicans 18, Detroit Pistons 8.
Last time out (2025-26), Detroit Pistons won 129–108 at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit Pistons have won the last four against New Orleans Pelicans.
Biggest margin between these two: Detroit Pistons by 46 points in 2024-25 (127–81).
Players to watch
For New Orleans Pelicans, watch Zion Williamson (20.6 points a game, 49 rebounds in 2026-27) and Saddiq Bey (16.4 points a game, 36 rebounds in 2026-27).
For Detroit Pistons, watch Cade Cunningham (24 points a game, 45 rebounds in 2026-27) and Duncan Robinson (19 points a game, 15 rebounds in 2026-27).
Milestone watch
Jalen Duren is 9 points short of 4,000 for their career.
At Smoothie King Center
New Orleans Pelicans have won 12 of their last 20 at Smoothie King Center.
The deeper numbers
Detroit Pistons rank second in NBA for third quarters in 2026-27 (+4.3 points a game).
What the numbers say
On the numbers this is too close to split.
Written automatically from Lineball's own match and player database. Not betting advice.
