Pistons Cash DarkHorse's Ticket in Low-Scoring Grind Against Shorthanded Hornets

The Pistons took care of business at home, grinding out a 97-89 victory over a depleted Hornets squad and covering DarkHorse's -7.5 spread in the process. This wasn't the 121-point explosion Detroit delivered in their home opener, but against Charlotte's skeleton crew, it didn't need to be.

The final margin of eight points landed comfortably on the right side of the number, validating the pre-game thesis that Charlotte's backcourt injuries would prove fatal. Without Coby White and Kon Knueppel, the Hornets limped to just 89 points—well below even their anemic 104 PPG season average—and couldn't generate enough offense to keep pace. Detroit's 116.1 offensive rating looked inflated in this defensive slog, but the Pistons controlled tempo and never let Charlotte's thin rotation find any rhythm.

The back-to-back concern for Detroit proved overblown. Playing at home against a team shooting 41.4% on the season, the Pistons simply had too many advantages to squander. Charlotte's 103.1 offensive rating looked every bit as hollow as advertised, and the spread never felt in doubt down the stretch. DarkHorse nailed the mismatch, and the Pistons delivered the cover. Sometimes the math is just that simple.