An intriguing Eastern Conference matchup will kick off Friday night’s five-game NBA slate. Tipping off at 7 p.m. ET, the Detroit Pistons will host the Cleveland Cavaliers — with both teams having a strong chance of winning the conference.
The Pistons enter as 5.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Cavaliers sit as a +190 underdog. The game total is set at 227.5 points.
These teams have already met twice this season, but Friday will be the first matchup since Cleveland acquired superstar guard James Harden. He’s currently listed as questionable with a thumb fracture.
Let’s dive into three of the top prop bets available for Friday’s matchup between the Pistons and Cavaliers.
Cavaliers vs. Pistons Best Prop Bets
Jalen Duren Over 11.5 Rebounds (-115)
There are plenty of positive storylines surrounding this Detroit Pistons team — but Jalen Duren’s breakout season is right near the top of the list. The 22-year-old center earned his first All-Star nod this season, averaging 18.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Duren is a rare combination of size and athleticism, playing with an admirable physicality that should play a factor in this matchup.
Cleveland relies heavily on its frontcourt for production. But even with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen on the floor together at a high rate, the Cavaliers rank just 10th in the NBA in rebounds per game and 14th in opponent rebounds allowed.
Duren has cleared 11.5 rebounds in 21 of 47 games this season, and he’s elevated his glass-cleaning production of late. He pulled down 13, 14, and 15 rebounds across his last three games. While Duren was limited to seven rebounds in his first matchup with Cleveland earlier this season, he did so in just over 20 minutes of action.
He has since proven himself essential to Detroit’s roster, and his stats in the rematch should reflect his breakout. Count on Duren to utilize his physicality and athleticism to record at least 12 rebounds for the fourth consecutive game.
James Harden Over 7.5 Assists (-112)
The Cleveland Cavaliers went all in at the deadline and acquired superstar guard James Harden. Unfortunately, the former MVP suffered a thumb fracture just seven games into his Cleveland tenure. While Harden intends to play through the injury in his non-shooting hand, he’s listed as questionable for Friday’s contest.
While his step-back three and ability to get to the free-throw line make compelling cases, Harden’s basketball IQ is his greatest superpower. The two-time NBA assist champion is one of the top passers in basketball history. And with him physically limited, expect him to showcase his playmaking ability and facilitate at an impressive rate.
Harden — who has averaged at least eight assists in every season since 2019–2020 — has cleared 7.5 dimes in five of seven games since joining the Cavaliers. With Donovan Mitchell sidelined, expect Harden to step up as the team’s primary facilitator against Detroit’s physical defense. The modest 7.5-assist line is too low based on Harden’s expanded role and dynamic skillset.
Jarrett Allen to Record a Double-Double (+127)
One guy who will continue to be among the biggest beneficiaries of Harden’s playmaking is Jarrett Allen. The former All-Star is averaging 15.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. But his production has skyrocketed upon being paired with Harden: he’s averaging 21.3 points and 11.3 rebounds across his last seven games. Allen has notched a double-double in nine of his last 10 games, including five straight.
Harden makes life easier on big men than just about any playmaker in the league, masterfully creating angles for pocket passes and lobs. Allen is perfectly capable of filling this role and executing alongside the future Hall of Famer, with the early returns on their chemistry looking extremely encouraging.
The Pistons are one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA, and it will take a complete team effort for the Cavaliers to prevent them from dominating the boards. Allen finished with 20 points and seven rebounds in his lone matchup against Detroit this year, which was back in October. Still, he has been rebounding the ball at a much better rate of late. Allen has scored at least 10 points in 36 of 48 games this season.
Rather than getting +116 odds of him pulling in 10+ rebounds, I am backing the Cleveland big man to record a double-double at +127 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
