Pistons Face 76ers for Top Eastern Seed

The Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers enter Wednesday night's matchup holding the two best records in the Eastern Conference. Detroit sits at 6-1, while Philadelphia is 7-1. The winner of this contest will claim the number one seed in the conference standings.

The two teams met on October 25, with the Pistons defeating the 76ers 106-93. In that game, Detroit built a 12-point lead in the first quarter and maintained the advantage for the remainder of the contest. Pistons guard Cade Cunningham scored 26 points in the win. Philadelphia point guard Tyrese Maxey recorded 29 points, five rebounds, and four assists for his side.

Since that initial meeting, both franchises have continued to perform. The 76ers have won their last three games, with each victory decided by a five-point margin. Their most recent result was a 126-107 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday. Detroit has also won its last five games, having lost only to the New York Knicks last Tuesday.

The Pistons are playing without starting center Jalen Duren due to a hamstring injury. His absence has altered the team's offensive dynamics. In his place, forward Paul Reed has increased his output. Reed has scored in double figures in four straight games. He posted 22 points against the Knicks and 16 points against the Hornets.

Reed currently averages 13.4 points per game. He has played at least 28 minutes in his last three appearances. SportsLine's computer model projects he will score 15.7 points in approximately 33 minutes of action on Wednesday. The model also projects a four-point victory for Detroit, with the Pistons winning 59% of the time in simulations.

Betting markets list Detroit as 2.5-point home favorites at Little Caesars Arena. The total points line is set at 218.5. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.