Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
The Detroit Pistons are set to play the second night of a back-to-back against one of the Eastern Conference's top teams. Following their defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks (107:128), they now head to TD Garden in Boston. However, the Pistons can draw encouragement from their previous meeting with the Celtics, where they lost by just two possessions (118:124).
Boston Celtics
There are doubts surrounding the participation of Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum for the Celtics. The Celtics’ offensive leader might miss the game due to knee tendonitis. Even if Tatum does play, his minutes might be restricted. This could prove significant, as their bench hasn't been as effective as last season. Without Tatum on the floor, the reigning champions concede 5.8 more points per 100 possessions, the most significant negative impact among all the starting players.
Detroit Pistons
Last night, the Detroit Pistons suffered a heavy loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, largely due to two of their shooters having off nights. Jaden Ivey and Malik Beasley combined for 15 misses from 20 attempts, but it's unlikely such a performance will happen in two consecutive games. On average this season, they lead the Pistons in three-point accuracy (39.9% and 38.3%) and contribute a combined 34.3 points per game.
Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons Prediction
In their matchup against the Boston Celtics in late October, the Detroit Pistons successfully covered the spread and have repeatedly shown they can challenge top teams. The Celtics, on the other hand, are often overrated by bookmakers, especially at home. This year, they have had a scheduling advantage six times but exceeded expectations against the spread only twice, winning by an average margin of 10 points at most. Backing the Pistons seems a more favourable option.
