Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons Point Spread Picks

Detroit has won two of three meetings this season, including 112-105 at Boston on Dec. 15 when the Celtics were held to 26 percent shooting from 3-point range, and Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 32 points. Detroit has won five of six after destroying Indiana 121-78 on Saturday. The Pistons showed their depth, with 13 players scoring. Boston is 1-4 ATS in its past five games against teams with .600 winning percentages and 1-4 ATS versus opponents with winning records overall. Detroit has gone UNDER seven games in a row and seven straight at home. The Pistons are 5-0 UNDER following a win. Four of the past five meetings have stayed UNDER. Both teams are in the top three in the NBA defensively in points allowed. Detroit is a small favorite, so take the Pistons on the moneyline and the UNDER.

The Boston Celtics are without Jayson Tatum for the season and have significantly lightened their payroll. Tutum is out, and gone are Tutum, Horford, Porzingis, and Holliday. That is four starters from a year ago, all out or gone. Despite that, the Celtics are 15-10 on the season and have been a surprise. Detroit is 20-5 on the season, and the Pistons have arrived as a team expected to make a deep postseason run. Detroit holds just a +1  scoring margin over the Celtics. I think Boston is the better team at the Garden. Make the play with Boston on the moneyline.

Detroit is in a vulnerable spot and the 13-game win streak is in jeopardy as the Pistons are playing their fifth game in 10 days and fourth road game in a row. Boston has won the past seven meetings at home and 12 of 14 against Detroit overall. The Celtics have won four of their past five games following Sunday's 138-129 victory over Orlando. Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and the Celtics shot 81.8 percent in the second quarter and 60 percent for the game. Boston also is seeking revenge for a 119-113 loss in the first meeting with Detroit this season. Brown exploded for 41 points in that game. The Celtics are #2 in the NBA allowing only 110.0 points per game. They have covered four of five Wednesday games. This is an NBA Cup game and Boston needs a win to even its Cup record at 2-2. The Celtics have had two days to prepare for this one. Take the Celtics.

We know it is going to be a rebuilding year for Boston without Jayson Tatum and the Celtics have started slowly losing their first two games, 117-116, to the 76ers and, 105-95, on the road to the Knicks two days ago. But the four-time defending Atlantic Division champions are not without pride. They want that first victory. Boston led Philadelphia by 10 points with nine minutes left and outscored the Knicks in three of the four quarters. The Celtics have retained their backcourt scoring production with Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons. Brown  is averaging 24 points. Detroit ranks 24th in 3-point defense. The Pistons' backcourt is not at full strength. Jaden Ivey is out with a knee injury and Caris LeVert is doubtful with a hamstring injury. The Pistons have a lot of youth. They have been up-and-down in this early going, blowing a 23-point lead to the Bulls in a 115-111 road loss and then coming back to upset the Rockets, 115-11, as a 6.5-point road underdog this past Friday. Rebounding has what's really hurt Boston as the Celtics have the league's third-worst total rebounding rate. Detroit, however, has been outrebounded on the season. Take the Celtics.

Detroit replaced its general manager and head coach after its disastrous 16-66 season in 2023-24 and the Pistons have made a remarkable turnaround. They are almost certainly headed to the playoffs and currently are on a seven-game win streak. The Pistons are winning in different ways as they outscored Atlanta 148-143 on Sunday and then beat the Clippers in a defensive battle 106-97 the following night. Detroit is 5-0 ATS its past five games and Boston is just 25-32-1 ATS this season. The Celtics have gone UNDER four of their past five games and Detroit has stayed UNDER four of six, including by 17.5 points against the Clippers. The Celtics did not cover while defeating Toronto last night and it went UNDER by 14.5 points. Boston now has to play a back-to-back on the road against one of the hottest teams in the league. Take the Pistons and the UNDER.