The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons are meeting Sunday in what feels like a preview of a potential playoff matchup. Cleveland is 20-16 and riding a three-game win streak. Detroit is 25-9 and the most surprising team in the NBA.

This is appointment television for hoops degenerates.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: Cavaliers (20-16) host Pistons (25-9) Sunday afternoon
• The damage: Cleveland -5, total 225.5, Cavs favored at home
• Why you should care: Two Eastern Conference contenders measuring each other up
• The move: Pistons +5 is the value play—Detroit covers everything

The Pistons' Unbelievable Run

If you told anyone in October that the Detroit Pistons would be 25-9 in early January, they'd check you into a mental institution. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year. A lottery team. A franchise going nowhere.

Instead, they're the second-best team in the Eastern Conference.

Cade Cunningham has made the leap everyone hoped for. The role players are exceeding expectations. The defense has been suffocating. Everything that could go right for Detroit has gone right.

The Pistons' December run was historic—they went 24-6 in the month and established themselves as legitimate contenders. This isn't a fluke. This is a team that's figured it out.

Cleveland's Resurgence

The Cavaliers have won three straight after a rough stretch that had fans questioning everything. Donovan Mitchell is back to playing like an All-Star, and the supporting cast is finally healthy.

Cleveland's home-court advantage is real. They're 12-5 at Rocket Arena this season, and the crowd gets loud for big games. This qualifies as a big game.

The Cavs have been inconsistent against the spread all season—they're one of the worst ATS teams in the league—but they've been better at home and better lately. Timing is everything.

The Matchup Breakdown

This comes down to which defense shows up. Both teams rank in the top 10 defensively, and both can grind games to a halt when they want to.

Detroit's length bothers teams. Cleveland's versatility creates mismatches. It's going to be a chess match, which usually means a lower-scoring affair than the 225.5 total suggests.

The Pistons have been covering everything. Detroit is 22-10-2 against the spread this season, one of the best marks in the league. They've earned every bit of that reputation.

The Line Movement

Cleveland opened as a 4-point favorite, and it's climbed to 5. The public loves home favorites, especially in a revenge spot after the Pistons beat the Cavs earlier this season.

The total has stayed relatively stable at 225.5, suggesting the market respects both defenses. Sharp money has been quiet on this game, which means the number is probably close to correct.

The Betting Angles

Pistons +5 (-110): Detroit covers. That's what they do. They've covered against better teams in tougher environments. Five points is too many for a team this good.

Under 225.5 (-110): Both defenses are elite. Both teams play at a controlled pace. This one stays in the 210s.

Cade Cunningham Over 24.5 Points (-115): Cade has been cooking all season, and big games bring out his best. He's going to try to outshine Mitchell in his building.

The Playoff Implications

Both teams are jockeying for Eastern Conference seeding. Every game matters. A Cleveland win keeps them in the hunt for home-court advantage in the first round. A Detroit win solidifies their grip on the 2-seed.

The pressure is equal on both sides, which usually means a close game. And close games favor the points.

The Bottom Line

Take the Pistons +5 and trust the process. Detroit has proven all season that they belong with the elite teams, and five points is too much cushion against a Cleveland squad that's been inconsistent.

Pistons 112, Cavaliers 110. Detroit covers, the under barely misses, and we get a preview of what should be a fantastic playoff series.

The East is loaded, and this is just the beginning.