Pick details
| MATCHUP | Boston Celtics | Detroit Pistons |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 4-0 | 3-1 |
| Spread | -1.5 -108 | +1.5 -112 |
| Moneyline | -115 | -105 |
| Total | Over 222.5 (-105) | Under 222.5 (-115) |
| Where | Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI | |
| When | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | |
| Time | 03:00 PM EDT | |
| TV | NBC | |
The Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons kick off the new NBA season at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday night.
Boston Celtics Betting Preview
The Boston Celtics went through plenty of highs and lows last season as they racked up 56 wins in the regular season to earn the second seed in the Eastern Conference despite Jayson Tatum playing just 16 games as he recovered from a ruptured right Achilles tendon. Jaylen Brown took lead of the team with averages of 28.7 points per game alongside Payton Pritchard who averaged 17.0 points per game to earn him a nice extension, and Neemias Queta who had a breakout year. Tatum was able to join the team late in the season and it looked as though they were set for another deep run before they blew a 3-1 series lead to the 76ers in the first round of the playoffs.
The heartbreaking defeat forced coach Brad Stevens to move in a different direction and he decided to trade away Jaylen Brown to the 76ers for Paul George in a move that shook the league. The Celtics didn’t stop there as they added Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley to bolster their depth while retaining Derrick White, Sam Hauser and Hugo Gonzalez. There will surely be plenty of pressure on George to have a big season as he attempts to fill the absence of Brown, especially given he played just 37 games last season, but there is still a lot to like about this Celtics team who are still contenders if they can stay healthy.
Detroit Pistons Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons are looking to build on one of the greatest turnarounds in NBA history where they racked up 60 wins and earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference, just two seasons after a dismal 14-win year. The Pistons tied a franchise record with 13 consecutive wins during the regular season and they did that behind their defense which really took off after the All-Star break. Cade Cunningham led the way with averages of 23.9 points and 9.9 assists per game, Jalen Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while Ausar Thompson had a breakout season and feasted with a league-leading 2.0 steals per game to earn a spot in the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
Unfortunately, the Pistons’ rapid rise meant that they just didn’t have the playoff experience and it showed as they battled past the Orlando Magic in a dramatic seven-game series in the first round before they eventually fell short to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a heartbreaking 4-3 series defeat leading to some key moves in the offseason. The Pistons acquired John Collins, Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince and Kevin Huerter for some much needed perimeter shooting, while shipping away Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert and Marcus Sasser.
Boston v Detroit Free Prediction
It’s always hard to predict games right at the start of the season, but the Pistons come into this matchup with plenty of continuity as they’ve basically retained their core while adding John Collins as the only key addition whereas the Celtics are playing without Jaylen Brown for the first time so some early-season growing pains are to be expected. The Celtics attempted 42.1 3-point shots per game last season and they can certainly make this a blowout if players like Tatum, Pritchard and White get home from behind the arc, but the Pistons beat the Celtics in three out of four meetings last season and I think they represent decent value as home underdogs to start the season against a new-look Celtics squad. The underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings between these teams and the Pistons are 4-2 ATS in their last six home games against the Celtics. This should be a close one from start to finish, but the Pistons’ early-season continuity could be the difference at home in this spot.
