NBA: Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons Preview, Odds, Prediction

The Boston Celtics visit the Detroit Pistons, with both units playing on the second of back-to-back nights. Boston was better than the Nuggets at home, while on the other side, the Pistons lost in New York to the Knicks. These two teams played a few nights ago, and the Cs won those contests, pretty easily we might add. The Pistons have some injury problems, with Cade Cunningham sitting out last night and being questionable for tonight’s event.

Preview

Boston Celtics (9-3, -455) were better than Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets last night, packing 131 points and allowing 112 on the other end. We’ve seen the Cs controlling the event from the tip-off until the end, and rebuffing each and every attack of the guests from Colorado.

Again, Boston was excellent from the three-point territory, making 16 hits from deep for 43.2%. They also limited the Nuggets to 38 rebounds, while they had 46.

Tatum was in the mood for scoring with 34 points in 37 minutes, with eight boards and five assists. Jayleen Brown had an excellent night, making 11 of his 15 shots from the field, for 25 points plus, he had eight boards and assists. The veteran center, Al Horford, made six threes in eight attempts for 21 buckets and seven boards, and he pretty much neutralized Jokic’s offensive productivity with his own.

Detroit Pistons (3-10, +345) didn’t stand any chance in New York against the Knicks, who were better, 121-112. Cade Cunningham and Marvin Bagley were out, so the Knicks used that in the best possible way, pulling away near the end of the opening quarter and after that, keeping the distance until the end.

Three-point shooting was once again the problem for the Pistons who sunk only seven threes in 31 tries, and that’s something they will need to change until the end of the year. Detroit had 41 free throws making 31, which isn’t quite satisfying as well.

Without Cade and Bagley, Bojan Bogdanovic was the best player with 25 points, and that was without a three made, despite having five shots. The Pistons had eight players with 10 or more points, yet that versatility didn’t help them too much. Alec Burks scored 17, Isaiah Stewart 13, the same as Hamidou Diallo.

Head to Head Games

A few days ago, the Cs defeated Detroit 128-112 at home, which was a routine victory for the hosts. Boston was up from the start until the end without any danger that the guests might come back. Young Jaden Ivey had 19 points, 10 boards and six assists, Saddiq Bay scored 18, Bogdanovic added 17, and Killian Hayes had 16 off the bench. Tatum poured 31 on the other end, Brown had a point fewer, while Sam Hauser stepped off the bench to drop 24, six threes.

Prediction

The Cs are in excellent shape, while the Pistons seem banged up with injuries. Several of their players might skip this event as well, which will only make things easier for the fired-up hosts who have five consecutive victories. Boston should cover the spread here too, because they are pretty much ruthless regardless of the venue and the hosts. Particulary in this case, because they play against the Pistons in Detroit.

Pick: Celtics -9.5