Pistons vs. Suns prediction: Why Detroit is favored to win Thursday's NBA matchup [1/29/2026]

The Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons are scheduled to meet in NBA action at Mortgage Matchup Center on Thursday, with tipoff at 9:00 PM ET.

The championship matchup pairs two 14–3 teams coming off sharply contrasting conference title games, with New England advancing through a low-scoring, snow-filled AFC Championship win over Denver and Seattle earning its place after a 31–27 NFC Championship thriller against the Rams.

The clash also spotlights two offensive focal points, with Drake Maye guiding New England through a composed, run-focused AFC title performance and Jaxon Smith-Njigba entering as Seattle’s primary playmaker following a 153-yard, one-touchdown outing in the NFC Championship.

Based on the latest simulation results and today’s injury news, Dimers' advanced NBA model predicts the Pistons as the most likely winner of the Pistons vs. Suns game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Suns lineup will feature players like Dillon Brooks, Grayson Allen and Collin Gillespie, while the Pistons will rely on Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris.

This article offers an expanded analysis of Thursday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Pistons vs. Suns prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's NBA matchup between the Pistons and Suns 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model gives the Pistons a 63% chance of defeating the Suns. Our predicted final score has the Pistons winning 108-105.

According to our model, the Pistons (-3.5) have a 51% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 214.5 points has a 51% chance of going over.

Pistons vs. Suns odds

We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Pistons vs. Suns picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

According to our best NBA bets for Thursday, the top play to make on this game is Pistons to win.

Pistons vs. Suns player props

Betting on Detroit vs. Phoenix NBA prop bets? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Mortgage Matchup Center.

Cade Cunningham is expected to lead the Pistons with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists, while Dillon Brooks is projected to have 22 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists for the Suns.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.

Pistons prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Pistons are:

Suns prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Suns:

Pistons vs. Suns game-day updates and essential details

Thursday's matchup between the Suns and Pistons at Mortgage Matchup Center is scheduled to begin at 9:00 PM ET.

• Who: Detroit Pistons vs. Phoenix Suns
• Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
• Time: 9:00 PM ET/6:00PM PT
• Venue: Mortgage Matchup Center

Conclusion

We predict the Pistons, with a 63% win probability, will likely beat the Suns on Thursday, with Cade Cunningham projected for a game-high 52 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Pistons vs. Suns insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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