NBA Sunday Betting: Pistons Road Favorites at Clippers Headline 5-Game Slate
Detroit is favored in Los Angeles. Boston should cruise in Portland. OKC hosts Philly. Five NBA games, five betting angles for December 28.
By Sharp Money Mike
Sunday's NBA slate is light but loaded with value. Five games, including the league's best team laying points on the road and the defending champs as heavy favorites in Portland.
Let's break down every game.
The Quick Hit
- Games today: 5 NBA matchups on December 28
- The headline: Detroit (-3.5) is favored at the Clippers. The Pistons. Road favorites. In LA.
- The blowout special: Boston (-7) at Portland should be comfortable
- The lock: OKC hosts Philly and the Thunder are massive favorites
Game-by-Game Breakdown
Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors
Time: 3:30 PM ET Line: Warriors -4 | O/U 224.5
The Warriors are back in the Bay and looking to right the ship after a mediocre stretch. Toronto is in full rebuild mode with nothing to play for except development.
Golden State has the home-court advantage and the better roster. Steph Curry should have his way with this Raptors defense, which ranks in the bottom third of the league in defensive efficiency.
The play: Warriors -4. They win by 6-8 in a comfortable afternoon game.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Boston Celtics
Time: 6:00 PM ET Line: Celtics -7 | O/U 229.5
Portland is 12-19 and has lost three straight at home. Boston is 19-11 and coming off a few days rest after Christmas. The Celtics should cruise.
The Trail Blazers don't have the personnel to match up with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Boston's depth is too much for a rebuilding Portland squad. The only question is whether the Celtics cover a touchdown spread.
The play: Celtics -7. Boston wins by double digits.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Philadelphia 76ers
Time: 7:00 PM ET Line: Thunder -9 | O/U 218.5
The Thunder are one of the best teams in the Western Conference, and Philly is... not. The 76ers have been decimated by injuries and chemistry issues all season. Joel Embiid's availability is always in question.
OKC's projected win probability is nearly 85%. This should be a comfortable home victory for the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an MVP candidate, and the supporting cast around him just keeps getting better.
The play: Thunder -9. Philly doesn't have the firepower to keep this close.
Washington Wizards at Memphis Grizzlies
Time: 7:00 PM ET Line: Grizzlies -8 | O/U 233.5
Washington is tanking. Memphis is trying to get Ja Morant fully back in rhythm. The Grizzlies should win this one going away.
The Wizards have been competitive in spots this season, but they don't have the talent to hang with a healthy Memphis squad. Ja will likely put up highlight-reel numbers against a defense that can't contain elite guards.
The play: Grizzlies -8. Memphis wins by 10+.
Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Clippers
Time: 9:00 PM ET Line: Pistons -3.5 | O/U 225.5
This is the game of the night. The Pistons — yes, the Detroit Pistons — are road favorites against an LA team. We live in wild times.
Detroit is 24-6, best in the NBA. They've been the favorite in 24 games this year and have won 75% of them. Cade Cunningham is playing like an MVP candidate, and the supporting cast around him is clicking.
The Clippers are 9-21 and have been a disappointment all season. They're playing at the new Intuit Dome, but the crowd won't be enough to overcome the talent gap.
The play: Pistons -3.5. Detroit wins their fourth straight and continues to assert themselves as the best team in basketball.
The Bottom Line
Sunday's slate is about trusting the elite teams. Boston should cruise against a bad Portland team. OKC should hammer Philly. And Detroit — incredibly — should win on the road in Los Angeles.
The Pistons-Clippers game is the one to watch. It's not every day you see Detroit laying points on the road against an LA franchise. But that's where we are in the 2025 NBA season. The Pistons are for real, and betting against them right now is betting against momentum.
Five games. Five opportunities. Don't overthink it.