Celtics vs Pistons

Detroit and Cade Cunningham have been rolling at home, riding a two-game winning streak at 30-10 atop the Central while Boston comes in 26-15, also on a mini two-game run but still adjusting to life without Jayson Tatum after his Achilles injury.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401809802)) Cunningham’s 26.2 points and 9.8 assists per game, supported by Jalen Duren’s interior dominance and versatile scorers like Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson, fuel an offense averaging 117.6 points that edges Boston’s 116.7.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/stats/_/name/det)) The Pistons have already shown they can hurt this matchup, with Cunningham posting 21 and 11 in last season’s win over Boston and Detroit hanging 114 in November’s narrow Cup loss at TD Garden despite the Celtics’ three-point barrage.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401705402/celtics-pistons?utm_source=openai)) With both teams at the 41-game mark and jockeying for top-two seeding in the East, Detroit’s home court and fully clean injury report versus a Celtics side still missing Tatum and managing smaller knocks to Payton Pritchard, Chris Boucher, and Josh Minott make the favorite a justified side.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/injuries/_/name/det)) I’m backing the Detroit Pistons moneyline at -154 with a B+ grade for strong win probability but only decent value at this number, preferring it to longer-shot Boston plus money. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 19/01/2026 10:19

Boston’s offense without Jayson Tatum has quietly stayed explosive, with Jaylen Brown and Anfernee Simons driving recent road outputs of 132 and 119 points, while the Celtics still average 116.7 per game despite the injury hit.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/bos)) Detroit counters with a top-tier attack of its own at 117.6 points per night behind Cunningham’s on-ball creation, Duren’s rim pressure, and a deep shooting corps that recently dropped 121 on Indiana and 108 on Phoenix.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/stats/_/name/det)) The season series has leaned toward offense, with November’s Cup clash finishing 117-114 in Boston and previous meetings between these cores often pushing into the 220s behind Cunningham’s gaudy lines and Detroit’s offensive rebounding edge.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401809802)) With both teams firmly in the East playoff race and little incentive to slow pace in a nationally televised spot, I expect enough possessions and efficiency on both sides to clear 224.5, so I lean Over 224.5 at -110 with a solid but not slam-dunk B grade given late-game variance around this number. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 19/01/2026 10:19

Jaylen Brown and the Celtics are unlikely to get blown out here, as these teams have played tight all year — including a three-point Cup win for Boston and other single-digit decisions in the recent head-to-heads — even while Detroit has surged to a 30-10 mark.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401809802)) Boston’s depth of playmaking with Brown, Simons, and Pritchard, plus a switchable supporting cast, has kept them competitive on the road during their current two-game win streak despite Tatum’s absence, and Joe Mazzulla’s group knows this matchup could matter for seeding and potential tiebreaks in May.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/bos)) Detroit is rightly favored at home behind Cunningham and Duren, but with the Pistons fully healthy, the number is shaded their way, and Boston’s ability to generate threes and force late-game situations makes a one-possession loss very live, which would cash the +2.5.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/injuries/_/name/det)) I’ll take Boston Celtics +2.5 at -105 with a B- grade, banking on another close finish while acknowledging that Detroit’s overall edge means the safer way to attack the game is still through the home side on the moneyline. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 19/01/2026 10:19