Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers Prediction & Betting Picks (November 9th, 2025)
NBA fans get a tense Eastern Conference clash on Sunday, when the Detroit Pistons enter Philly as rare road favorites to battle the 76ers.
Joel Embiid won’t be on hand due to rest, but the 76ers will still be tasked with slowing down a Detroit team that is a stellar 7-2 through nine games and owns the 4th best defense in The Association.
Cade Cunningham and co. will be -145 betting favorites to get the job done, while a big road win would extend their current winning streak to six games.
It’s a tough game to peg, especially with Embiid out and the Pistons on the road. Not sure which team to back? I’ve got you covered as I investigate the latest odds and matchups en route to my Pistons vs. 76ers prediction and top picks.
Game Details
- Matchup: Detroit Pistons (7-2) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (6-3)
- Date & Time: Sunday, November 9, at 6:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, PA
- How to Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, NBA League Pass, and NBC Sports Philadelphia
Early Season Performance & Trends
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons have been amazing to start off the 2025-26 NBA campaign. We saw this from them for chunks of last year, and it has carried over into the new season thanks to star point guard Cade Cunningham.
Cunningham paces the team with 25.5 points per game, but he’s also dishing out 9.6 dimes per game. The team isn’t playing especially fast (14th in pace), but they are executing in transition (2nd in fastbreak points) and dominating inside (#1 in points in the paint.
Jalen Duren is to thank for the inside work, as he’s been an elite two-way force that is also stingy inside the paint on the defensive end of the floor. Detroit has a passable offense with the inside/outside game of Cade and Duren, but their defense (4th in scoring) is what they continue to hang their hat on as a collective.
Philadelphia 76ers
There was a time when the 76ers had the profile Detroit has now, but they’re the 23rd-ranked scoring defense and are getting obliterated in transition. The 76ers aren’t doing a ton right on defense these days, but they combat that by pushing the pace (12th) and piling on points (123.3 points per game).
Joel Embiid is chipping in what he can when active, but it’s actually been stud point guard Tyrese Maxey who has been the lifeblood of the Philly offense. Maxey is off to a scorching hot start, averaging over 33 points per game so far.
Maxey isn’t totally alone, as rookie VJ Edgecombe is putting up 17 points per game already, while three other players are good for 17+ points on any given night.
Philly isn’t the defensive force the Pistons are, nor are they as balanced. But they can match wits with anyone on offense and Maxey has been virtually unstoppable all season long.
Head‑to‑Head / Historical Context
Playing in the same conference for decades, the Pistons and 76ers have faced off quite a bit – 394 times during the regular season, to be exact.
Philly has dominated the lifetime series, going 234-160 over the course of those meetings. The Pistons had the upper hand last year (2-1), which could be the signaling of a turning of the tide, so to speak.
The 76ers dominated to the tune of an eight-game winning streak prior to that point. The history is rich and leans toward the Sixers, but Detroit appears to be trending in a more positive direction at the moment.
Key Matchup Breakdown
Detroit’s offense starts with Cade Cunningham, who owns a massive usage rate and is responsible for creating a ton of their offense.
Cunningham can do a lot of the heavy-lifting on his own, but he sets his teammates up beautifully and hunts for open shots. This is not an offense that relies on the outside shot, however, as Cunningham looks for the best shot available, while Duren can feast inside.
That can keep Detroit from offensive explosions or from getting hot from long range, but they’re a reasonably efficient squad that takes high percentage shots and knows how to get to the free throw line as well.
The Sixers thrive on executing in transition and converting open threes. When they have Joel Embiid he can take over and dominate the mid-range and paint, but this is a team that allows Tyrese Maxey to find the soft spots in the defense for the most part.
Maxey does a fantastic job, as the Sixers can score with the best of them, and he has a slew of capable shooters waiting to knock shots down when the defense collapses. Philly only launches the 15th most threes per game, but open looks turn into made shots.
The 76ers rank 8th in made threes per game, while they’re shooting the lights out (3rd) with a 40% mark from long range. It’s fair to wonder if that type of efficiency on low-ish volume is sustainable, but right now it’s working for a group of snipers that don’t force the issue.
Philadelphia is not a strong defensive team right now. They’re typically putting up so many points that it doesn’t matter, but they rank 23rd in scoring and 30th in fastbreak points allowed.
I know what you’re thinking; their elite scoring simply forces opponents to compete and put up points. Perhaps to an extent, but they are 20th in defensive efficiency, so they simply just aren’t very good at stopping teams currently.
Detroit is, as they rank 4th in scoring, 2nd down low, and 3rd in efficiency. These teams are polar opposites of each other right now.
In terms of pace, the Pistons play a slower brand of basketball (16th), while Philly is a little faster (12th).
- Who Stops Duren? If Embiid weren’t resting, I’d say this matchup could tilt in his favor. However, the 76ers will toss a litany of bodies Duren’s way. Realistically, none of them should contain him, nor will he have too much trouble limiting them inside.
- Cade vs. Maxey: This is going to be a great matchup. Cunningham is easily the better defender of the two, but putting the clamps down on either of these guys is a tall order.
- Pistons D vs. Philly’s 3s: The Pistons are nasty down low on defense, but their defense on the outside is simply average. They will need to stay on their man and/or close out, though, as the Sixers have a slew of perimeter shooters who will hit wide open looks at a scary rate.
The 76ers will continue to be without star center Joel Embiid on the second leg of back-to-back sets. With Embiid playing last night, he’ll rest his body on Sunday and miss this game.
Detroit continues to be without shooting guard Jaden Ivey, but is otherwise at full strength for this matchup.
Betting Odds & Market Interpretation
Check out the latest Pistons vs. 76ers betting odds (via DraftKings):
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Pistons | -4 (-110) | -164 | Over 231.5 (-110) |
76ers | +4 (-110) | +138 | Under 231.5 (-110) |
What the Market Suggests
The Pistons are getting a considerable amount of credit for their hot start and strong defensive play. Usually, the road team is still the underdog when the teams are relatively even, but the oddsmakers are suggesting a clear lean toward Detroit.
Joel Embiid resting on the second leg of back-to-back sets plays into this a bit. The 76ers have still been quite competitive without their star center, but they lack imposing size and scoring down low without him.
The game total feels a little high despite Detroit’s defensive impact. Philly puts up 123 points per game, but Detroit’s 4th-ranked scoring defense complicates matters.
From a Bettor’s Lens
There is obvious value with the Pistons and the Under. The game total respects Philly’s offense at home more than Detroit’s defense, while the Sixers feel like trappy value at home on the second leg of a back-to-back set.
Situational Considerations
The Sixers played last night with some of their key players getting significant minutes. Add in the absence of Embiid, and we could have a tired and shorthanded Sixers squad on our hands.
Detroit has also done a great job against the spread this year. They are 7-2 ATS overall, 3-1 against the spread on the road, and 5-1 ATS when favored. In all fairness, the 76ers are 4-1 ATS as the underdog, 6-2 ATS overall, and 2-1 against the spread at home.
Best Bets & Confidence Levels
| Bet | Recommendation | Confidence Level |
|---|---|---|
Under 231.5 (-110) | I am going to lean into the Pistons’ defense. Philly could be tired after playing last night, while they will be down one of their best players. | 7/10 |
Pistons -164 | Winning on the road is never easy, but Detroit has looked fantastic. They are the fresher team, and we get good value with them due to this being a tough road environment. | 7/10 |
Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers odds won’t stay still — watch how the lines shift and lock in the best number before tip-off at the best sports betting sites.
Final Score Prediction & Closing Thoughts
Final Score Prediction: Pistons 112, 76ers 110
I still expect a close game and plenty of points. Philly is still at home with the explosive Tyrese Maxey leading the charge, so I think they can at least push Detroit’s defense to what they allow on average most nights.
Philly getting to their season average doesn’t feel right. They are without a key contributor in Embiid, who gives them a lot of points, defense, and rebounding. They have a collection of big men they can rotate, but nobody near his caliber.
The 76ers have a lot of wing talent to work around Maxey, but Cade’s defense and Detroit’s interior dominance on both ends are ultimately going to be too much. Give me the Pistons in a mild defensive battle that allows the Under to hit.
