After back-to-back days of NBA Cup action, the association returns to its normal regular season on Thursday with three games:

There are a number of key players who won’t be playing tonight including Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.

Additionally, the Celtics have listed Jayson Tatum as questionable tonight – but they’re still double-digit favorites against the Pistons.

I’m watching the duel between two players – one on one side and one on the prop market – on Thursday evening. Plus, the matchup between the Pelicans and Kings offers incredible value for one of the best big men in the NBA.

Let’s break down the pieces for Thursday’s short list.

Find Peter Deweys NBA betting record here (Futures included). You can also follow my daily pieces on BetStamp here.

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Detroit Pistons +12.5 (-112) vs. Boston Celtics – 0.5 units

Boston has won 11 straight games against the Pistons, but I think Detroit is a bit underrated in this matchup considering how well it has played against Boston this season.

The Pistons dropped just six and 10 points against the C’s and scored at least 118 points in both games. Boston’s defense has taken a small step back this season, ranking 10th in the league in defensive rating after finishing in the top three last season.

Even as a home favorite, Boston doesn’t cover the spread this season, as it is just 4-9 overall and has an average margin of victory of just 7.7 points per game. As for Detroit, it’s an impressive 6-3-1 against the team as an away underdog.

As long as Cade Cunningham is playing – he is off the injury report after battling an illness earlier this season – the Pistons have shown that they are at a much higher level this season – like their road win over New York in theirs last time out proves.

I’m going to take the points with Detroit in this game on Thursday night.

Domantas Sabonis OVER 12.5 rebounds (-130) – 0.5 units

New Orleans has struggled all season – tonight against Ingram and Williamson – and had very limited options up front early in the season.

This makes for a prime matchup for Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis tonight.

So far this season, Sabonis has averaged 12.7 rebounds per game, and now he faces a thin Pelicans front line led by rookie Yves Missi and veteran Daniel Theis – who is undersized in the midfield.

So far in the 2024-25 season, the Pelicans are just 26th in the league in opponent rebounds per game and 24th in rebound percentage. Sabonis should have a big day on the boards on Thursday.

Kristaps Porzingis made OVER 2.5 3-pointers (+126) – 0.5 units

A little plus-money prop tonight in Boston?

I like this bet for Kristaps Porzingis even better if Tatum ends up sitting, but I still think this is a solid number for him to hit on Thursday.

Porzingis had arguably his best game of the 2024-25 season on December 4 against Detroit, dropping 26 points on 8 of 17 shooting (3 of 3 against 7).

KP is a tough opponent for any defense due to his ability to shoot from long range, and he has shot a lot of threes in a few minutes so far. Porzingis is averaging 2.4 three-pointers on 7.0 attempts per game (34.3 percent) and has attempted at least five shots from distance in all five games this season.

Detroit ranks 23rd in the NBA in opponent 3-point shots made and is even worse in opponent 3-point percentage this season (28th). Don’t be shocked if KP blocks a number of long-range shots tonight.

Odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.

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