The NBA summer league action is winding down in Las Vegas, with playoffs kicking off on Saturday. But there is a loaded slate of action on Friday as aspiring NBA players continue to make their case for why they deserve a chance or to improve their standing with their organization. Tipping off at 9 p.m. ET, the Detroit Pistons will take on the Miami Heat, with each team entering with a 1-3 record.
DraftKings Sportsbook is offering odds for all the summer league matchups, including some player prop and team prop options, depending on your location.
The Pistons enter as 3.5-point favorites with -155 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Heat are +130 underdogs, with the game total set at 184.5 points.
Pistons vs. Heat preview, prediction
The Detroit Pistons are off to a 1-3 start to the summer league. They kicked things off with a 101-93 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, in which Detroit trailed from wire-to-wire. The Pistons bounced back in their second matchup, taking down the Cleveland Cavaliers by a score of 103-94. They dominated the rebounding battle and shot 48% from beyond the arc to secure the win. In the third game in Las Vegas, the Knicks produced an 86-75 win over the Pistons. Detroit struggled to shoot the ball, connecting on just 39% of their field goals and 30% from deep. Most recently, the Suns defeated the Pistons 100-88. Phoenix stretched the lead to as many as 17 and led for 96% of this matchup.
Second-year shooting guard Chaz Lanier headlines the production, averaging 19 points while shooting 51.3% on three-point attempts. Isaac Jones adds 17 points and eight rebounds per game, while 17th overall pick Ebuka Okorie is contributing 16 points, 4.8 assists and 2.8 steals per game despite some efficiency problems. Brice Williams contributes 14.8 points and five rebounds so far. Roddy Gayle Jr., Jaden Henley, and Drake Allen have had some positive flashes, as well.
The Miami Heat hold a 1-3 record in summer league and have cut back their roster a bit with the action closing down. They kicked off the Las Vegas tournament with a 119-86 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, in which there was some added intensity as the dust continues to settle from the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster trade. Miami stretched its lead to as many as 36 points and held control for 58% of the matchup. The Heat then lost to the Orlando Magic the following day, 93-88. This was an evenly fought matchup in which both sides showed some signs of promise, but the Magic were able to come out on top. Next up, the Heat fell 90-73 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a matchup they trailed for 91% of the game. Cleveland extended its lead to double digits before halftime and never looked back. Most recently, the Raptors edged out the Heat 99-90 despite the Heat out-rebounding them by 12.
Injuries and summer league fatigue have taken a toll on this Heat roster. Trevor Keels averaged 23 points and 4.5 rebounds across his first two games, but suffered a sprained right MCL, which ended his summer league. Ryan Conwell finished with 19 points and three assists in his lone summer league performance, but the organization sent him home early with the belief that he had shown enough. Of the available bodies, Jahmir Young is averaging 22 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per contest. Tre White and Tre Donaldson are combining for 31 points per matchup, with White adding 6.3 rebounds per game. Vladislav Goldin adds eight points and a team-high seven rebounds per game, while Ian Schieffelin, J’Vonne Hadley, and Kendall Brown also have had some nice flashes.
Pistons vs. Heat pick, best bet
Neither of these teams is thrilled by their 1-3 record, and injury news will be worth monitoring up until tip-off. But the Pistons still appear to be evaluating talent with more seriousness and allowing their top players to suit up. While Miami is sure to still bring its best effort on the floor, the removal of some of its top talents is telling of its outlook for this game.
But the Pistons have seen some impressive performances from their young talent, which will be a major factor in this matchup. Ebuka Okorie has gradually looked more comfortable and should see plenty of opportunities in this matchup. Chaz Lanier opened up summer league with a 1-for-6 performance from beyond the arc in the first game, but it has felt as if he hasn’t missed since. Detroit has done a nice job running plays to generate three-point looks for the former Tennessee sharpshooter, and his 51.3% three-point percentage is an incredible efficiency. Isaac Jones has also exceeded expectations and will be asked to play a major role again on Friday night.
In general, the Pistons’ top-end talent has been relatively impressive, but they lack depth in this summer league context. This is not a concern I will put much stock in for this matchup, given the Heat’s removal of their top players. Miami has leaned on high-scoring for its success, averaging 92.5 points per game overall, and its 119-point output still marks the highest of any team in Las Vegas. But without Trevor Keels and Ryan Conwell, this does not feel as feasible. They also kicked off summer league with their most impressive effort by far, and have failed to reach this level in any of the other games.
Sometimes motivation is the biggest factor in this type of basketball setting. Expect Friday’s matchup to be a situation where this is put on display, and for Detroit to approach it with a bit more desire and seriousness than the Heat. Even if it has not been as linear with the game results, the Pistons have looked more encouraging as they have gotten more games under their belt, and back them to continue building off this with a victory by over the 3.5-point spread on Friday.
