The first game of tonight's action is going to be between the Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Pelicans. After 70 games, the Pistons have just 12 wins and 58 losses and they are the worst team in the Eastern Conference while the Pelicans have 43 wins and 27 losses and the 5th-place in the Western Conference. In this game, I predict that the Pelicans will cover the handicap.

The Pistons have lost the last 5 games. While the games against Miami were close, all other losses were by at least 19 points. Jalen Duren is questionable while Cade Cunningham is probable but it wouldn't be too surprising if Cade's playing time would be limited because there's no point giving him a lot of minutes, and the Pistons would like to get the 1st draft pick. At home, Detroit has covered the handicap in just 47% of the games.

The Pelicans have won 8 out of the last 10 games. The only 2 losses were against good Eastern Conference teams - the Cavaliers and Magic. Two games ago, their leader Brandon Ingram got injured but it didn't stop the team as they ran over the Heat. The Pelicans are one of the best road teams this season as they have covered the spread in 60% of the road games.

It's safe to say that here are meeting 2 different calibre teams. Not having Ingram is the only absent player for the visitors while Detroit won't have Simone Fontecchio, Ausar Thompson, Quentin Grimes and maybe Duren. Zion Williamson has been flying for the Pelicans and I don't see who's going to be able to stop him. In non-conference games, the Pelicans have covered the spread in 62% of the games while Detroit just in 40%.

Don't be surprised if the Pelicans crushes them by a big margin.

今晚的第一场比赛将在底特律活塞队和新奥尔良鹈鹕队之间进行。在70场比赛之后，活塞仅取得了12胜58负，是东部最差的球队，而鹈鹕则取得了43胜27负，排名西部第五。在这场比赛中，我预测鹈鹕队将支付障碍。

活塞最近5场比赛都输了。虽然对阵热火的比赛很接近，但其他所有输掉的比赛都至少落后19分。贾伦·杜伦是有问题的，而凯德·坎宁安是有可能的，但如果凯德的上场时间有限也不会太令人惊讶，因为给他太多的上场时间没有意义，而活塞想要得到一个状元签。在国内，底特律只在47%的比赛中支付了残障费用。

鹈鹕队在过去的10场比赛中赢了8场。仅有的两场失利都是对阵东部的强队——骑士和魔术。两场比赛前，他们的领袖布兰登·英格拉姆受伤了，但这并没有阻止他们击败热火。鹈鹕是本赛季最好的客场球队之一，因为他们在60%的客场比赛中占据了优势。

可以肯定地说，我们在这里遇到了两个不同水平的团队。没有英格拉姆是客队唯一缺阵的球员，而活塞队将失去西蒙·冯泰克奥、奥萨尔·汤普森、昆汀·格兰姆斯，也许还有杜兰。锡安·威廉姆森一直在鹈鹕飞，我不知道谁能阻止他。在非联盟的比赛中，鹈鹕队有62%的比赛能做到这一点，而活塞队只有40%。

如果鹈鹕以大比分击败他们，不要感到惊讶。