Pistons vs Rockets Predictions, Picks & Betting Lines (Summer League, July 13)

• The Detroit Pistons will take on the Houston Rockets in Summer League play Sunday
• Houston guard Reed Sheppard is the current favorite for Summer League MVP
• See below for the updated Pistons vs Rockets odds, plus my picks and predictions for Sunday

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It’s a battle of two players currently in the running for NBA Summer League MVP, when the Detroit Pistons take on the Houston Rockets.

Rockets guard Reed Sheppard is the current betting favorite to take the award (+600 at FanDuel), but announcing himself in his debut was Pistons’ guard Ron Holland, with the fifth-best odds (+1500).

Check our Pistons vs Rockets odds, and our predictions below for this Sunday matchup from the Thomas & Mack Center in Vegas. Action tips at 4 pm ET, with ESPN2 and ESPN+ providing broadcast coverage.

Pistons vs Rockets Odds

The Rockets check in as 1.5-point favorites in the NBA odds, and -132 on the moneyline. Detroit is a +108 moneyline underdog, while the total sits at 184.5, with -110 odds on either side.

Odds as of July 12 at FanDuel. Get the FanDuel promo code before signing up.

Sheppard Stellar in Debut

There is one headline for the Rockets in Vegas, and it’s Reed Sheppard, the 6-foot-3 guard taken third overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.

He played sparingly in 52 games in his rookie year, averaging just over 12 minutes a game, but that Rockets’ deep lineup he struggled to crack has gotten consolidated, with Kevin Durant joining the team and accelerating the title timeline.

Now, Houston is not-so-secretly begging for a Sheppard leap in Year 2, as the Rockets need a legit backup point guard behind Fred VanVleet, and a knock-down shooter in the KD orbit.

he really just went 9-0 in 84 seconds…

different @reed_sheppard 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/oBhfzuWo1F pic.twitter.com/zFIpdgKBbW

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) July 12, 2025

Sheppard’s Summer League debut showed the kid might just be ready for the expanded role. He scored a team-high 28 points, including six made triples, with eight boards, four assists and four steals in the 95-92 loss to the Clippers.

His efficiency will need to improve, as Sheppard shot a rough 10-for-25 from the field, but the kid understands the brief.

Holland Shines Over Knicks

Ron Holland showed he’s above the rest of the Pistons’ field, as the guard, who played a legit rotation spot for the 6th-seeded Detroit a year ago, led the squad to a 104-86 win over New York to kick off Summer League.

Ron Holland II SHOWED OUT for the Pistons in Las Vegas!

🔥 28 PTS
🔥 11 REB
🔥 3 STL
🔥 4 3PM pic.twitter.com/XfUyuzR6wy

— NBA (@NBA) July 12, 2025

Holland scored a game-high 28 points on a crisp 8-for-12 shooting from the field. More importantly, that shaky 3-point shot looked good, as he shot 4-for-5 from distance, while also grabbing 11 boards and picking up three steals.

Another solid showing, and Holland will further make his case that he needs to be on the court for the Pistons, who have a deep array of guards/wings behind Cade Cunningham.

Pistons vs Rockets Predictions

This will be one of the better mano-a-mano showdowns during Summer League, with a pair of players in Sheppard and Holland who have shown they’re ready for the next level.

That being said, the Rockets shot just 41.8% from the field against the Clippers, including 33.3% from distance.

Those are the kind of shooting numbers Detroit forced out of New York, holding the Knicks to 40% shooting from the field, and a rough 6-for-27 from 3-point range, while also forcing 17 turnovers.

Sheppard might win the scoring battle, but Holland’s Pistons should improve to 2-0.

• Pistons ML (+108 at FanDuel)