Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 11/12/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue:  Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI

Where to watch: Bally Sports Detroit, NBC Sports Boston

DraftKings: Celtics -9

FanDuel: Celtics -9.5

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: Celtics -9.5

Celtics: 9-3

Pistons: 3-10

Celtics: won five in a row; won 131-112 vs. Nuggets on Friday

Pistons: lost five of six; lost 121-112 at Knicks on Friday

It might be time for us to seriously consider Jayson Tatum in the MVP race. No matter the day or the game, Tatum has continuously put the Boston Celtics on his back, and it was no different on Friday night in Boston’s 131-112 win over the Denver Nuggets to push Boston’s winning streak to five games.

Now the Celtics will try to keep things rolling on the second night of a back-to-back, with travel, against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday in Detroit. The Pistons are also playing the second game of a back-to-back, but lost 121-112 against the New York Knicks on Friday night, for context.

It’s funny how I bring up Tatum in the MVP race when he outplayed reigning two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Tatum finished with 34 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Making it a third straight game with at least 30 points and the seventh time the star forward reached that this season.

It was a big night for the stars in Boston, along with Tatum. Jaylen Brown chipped in with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, while Al Horford made a career-high six 3-pointers and finished with 21 points and seven rebounds. Grant Williams also had 13 in 32 minutes, as well.

The Celtics are the reigning Eastern Conference champions for a reason and they have continued to show it through this 9-3 start. Boston shot 55.6% from the floor and went 16 of 37 from 3-point range. In short, it was another day at the office for the Celtics as they look to avenge last year’s NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors. There’s still a lot of basketball to play, but the Celtics will not have an easy road through the playoffs with Milwaukee and Cleveland running the roost.

The Pistons are going through the phase of being a young, talented team but a long way to go in terms of competing. Since winning their season opener against Orlando, the Pistons have lost 10 of 12 and are freefalling fast. Detroit is coming off that rough loss in New York which came after losing to the Celtics, 128-112 on Wednesday.

In the New York game, Bojan Bogdanovic continued his hot start with 25 points, and he was the main point of the offense with Cade Cunningham out due to left shin soreness. Seven players ended up scoring in double figures, including 17 from Alec Burks off the bench.

The Pistons are now 3-10 and have a lot of time left to get things going. But to expect anything from them going forward is really asking a lot. Dwane Casey has them on the right track, but the Pistons are not going to be a contender in the meantime.

I normally would stay away from the favorite on the road coming off a night of back-to-back travel, but the Pistons are having that rough of a time that they might be in need of a change, but I won’t go that far. But Boston wins and continues a nice winning streak. Celtics by 15

Celtics are 51-45 ATS on the road the last three years.

Celtics are 20-24 ATS against Central Division opponents the last three years.

Pistons are 23-12 ATS against Atlantic Division opponents the last three years.

Pistons are 45-38 ATS at home the last three years.

PG: Marcus Smart

SG: Derrick White

SF: Jaylen Brown

PF: Jayson Tatum

C: Al Horford

PG: Cade Cunningham

SG: Jaden Ivey

SF: Saddiq Bey

PF: Bojan Bogdanovic

C: Isaiah Stewart

Celtics: Malcolm Brogdon (day-to-day), Robert Williams III (knee, out), Danilo Gallinari (knee, out)

Pistons: Cade Cunningham (day-to-day), Marvin Bagley III (knee, out)

Points: Jayson Tatum -- 31.2

Rebounds: Jayson Tatum -- 6.9

Assists: Marcus Smart -- 7.0

Points: Cade Cunningham -- 19.9

Rebounds: Isaiah Stewart -- 9.9

Assists: Cade Cunningham -- 6.0