Hornets vs. Pistons Recap: Cunningham Closes It, Eleven Plays Cash

Detroit beat Charlotte 97-89 after trailing 51-44 at halftime. The Hornets led by as many as 12, but the Pistons won the third quarter 32-19 and took their first second-half lead at 57-56 on a Cade Cunningham three. Cunningham finished with 30 points, and two late threes from him pushed the lead to 94-86 and then 97-89. Brandon Miller led Charlotte with 31 points and 12 rebounds. Eleven DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

ALT: Pistons -4.5 (-170 at FanDuel): CASHED

• Our read: The main line was Pistons -7.5, and Detroit had won by 5+ in 8 of its last 10.
• What happened: Detroit won by 8, covering by 3.5.

ALT: Hornets +13.5 (-235 at DraftKings): CASHED

• Our read: The main line was Hornets +7.5, and Charlotte had covered +13.5 in 8 of its last 10 and 3 of 4 this season.
• What happened: Charlotte lost by 8, so the alt covered by 5.5.
• Worth watching: The final margin landed between both alt numbers, so both sides cashed. Moving each side away from the main line gave a wide window.

ALT: Cade Cunningham 2+ made threes (-215 at FanDuel): CASHED

• Our read: Cunningham had cleared 2+ made threes in 8 of his last 10 games and 15 of his last 20.
• What happened: He made 4 of 9 threes in 39 minutes, 2.5 over the line.

Cade Cunningham under 9.5 assists (-146 at FanDuel): CASHED

• Our read: He had stayed under 9.5 assists in 8 of his last 10 and in every game this season, averaging 8.0.
• What happened: He finished with 7 assists, 2.5 under, while taking 22 shots.
• Worth watching: He carried the scoring load and still stayed well under. His shot volume and assist lines are worth reading together.

ALT: Duncan Robinson 3+ made threes (-205 at FanDuel): CASHED

• Our read: Robinson had cleared 3+ made threes in 8 of his last 10 games and 15 of his last 20.
• What happened: He hit 3 of 8 from deep, landing exactly on the number. Two of them came during the third-quarter run.

ALT: Duncan Robinson 12+ points (-210 at FanDuel): CASHED

• Our read: He had cleared 12+ points in 9 of his last 10 games and 13 of his last 20.
• What happened: He scored 13 in 32 minutes, 1.5 over the line, despite shooting 4-of-13.
• Worth watching: Both Robinson lines cleared by a single make. His threes drive his points, so the two props move together.

ALT: Daniss Jenkins 3+ assists (-250 at FanDuel): CASHED

• Our read: Jenkins had cleared 3+ assists in 9 of his last 10 games and 16 of his last 20.
• What happened: He had exactly 3 assists with 14 points off the bench in 24 minutes.
• Worth watching: He scored three baskets in the fourth quarter. More minutes like that would give his assist line more room.

ALT: Kevin Huerter 1+ made threes (-320 at FanDuel): CASHED

• Our read: Huerter had cleared 1+ made threes in 9 of his last 10 games and 16 of his last 20.
• What happened: He made 1 of 3 threes in 19 minutes.
• Worth watching: Short minutes make even a low line tight. The price is steep for a bench role.

Ausar Thompson 7+ rebounds (+120 at FanDuel): CASHED

• Our read: Thompson had cleared 7+ rebounds in 7 of his last 10 games and 13 of his last 20, and the plus price implied only 45 percent.
• What happened: He grabbed 9 rebounds, 2.5 over the line, and added 8 assists in 29 minutes.
• Worth watching: Plus-money rebound lines are worth a look when a player's recent clear rate sits well above the implied number.

ALT: Moussa Diabate 2+ assists (-179 at DraftKings): CASHED

• Our read: Diabate had cleared 2+ assists in 8 of his last 10 games and 14 of his last 20.
• What happened: He finished with exactly 2 assists in 35 minutes.

Moussa Diabate under 9.5 rebounds (-146 at FanDuel): CASHED

• Our read: He had stayed under 9.5 rebounds in 8 of his last 10 and 3 of 4 this season. This was one of our lower-confidence plays, and it landed.
• What happened: He pulled down 9 rebounds, 0.5 under the line, with 5 of them on the offensive glass.
• Worth watching: Both Diabate lines landed right at the edge. He played 35 minutes, so his role is real, but the margins were thin.

How the game played out

Charlotte committed 25 turnovers and Detroit came up with 13 steals. The Pistons shot 13-of-33 from three, and Paul Reed added 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Miller scored 31 on 26 shots, but the Hornets could not get closer than 3 in the fourth.

Trends to watch

• Detroit outscored Charlotte 53-38 after halftime. A team that closes like that can make alt spreads on its side worth a look.
• Cunningham played 39 minutes and took 22 shots. His usage makes his threes and points lines the ones to track.
• Ausar Thompson had 9 rebounds and 8 assists in 29 minutes. His all-around role keeps both his board and assist lines in view.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. For more on these markets, see point spread and alt line, or get more at /nba.