The Boston Celtics (55-14) travel to face off against the Detroit Pistons (12-57) on Friday, March 22nd. This game will be played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit and televised on NBCS. The Celtics are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Pistons are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Bucks. Tip-off is set for 7:00 ET.
Celtics vs Pistons
The Celtics Are Coming Off A Win
In their most recent game, the Celtics took down the Bucks by a score of 122-119. Going into the game, the Celtics were favored by -10.5 and their 3 point win was not enough to cover the spread. The over/under line for this matchup was set at 226.5 points, and the teams managed to exceed that total.
When looking at the Celtics’ overall record of 55-14, it’s important to note their 7 game winning streak. In home games, the Celtics are 32-3 compared to their 23-11 record on the road.
Boston has an overall ATS record of 35-31 as they come into today’s game. During this season, Boston has a 33-30 record against the spread as favorites and 2-1 as underdogs.
The Pistons Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
The Pistons’ most recent matchup against the Pacers saw Cade Cunningham lead the Pistons with 23 points while shooting 9/22 from the field. Jaden Ivey put up 15 points which was 2nd on the team, but it wasn’t enough as Detroit ended up losing the game with a final score of 122-103.
Coming into today’s game against the Celtics, the Pistons have an overall record of 12-57. When looking at their home and away splits, the Pistons are 7-29 at home compared to 5-28 on the road.
Detroit has an ATS record of 34-34 for this season, which includes their current two game losing streak against the spread. The Pistons have suffered two consecutive ATS losses when playing as underdogs, and they are 3-4 against the spread when they are the favorites.
Celtics Offense Breakdown
Today, the Celtics enter the game as one of the NBA’s top-scoring teams, averaging 121 points per game (2nd).
The Celtics have been one of the most prolific three-point shooting teams in the NBA this season, leading the league in both three-point makes and attempts. On average, they are making 16.6 threes per game while shooting 39% from beyond the arc.
When it comes to scoring, the Celtics are 2nd in the NBA with 121 points per game. However, their scoring has been slightly higher at home (123.3) compared to on the road (118.6).
In terms of field goal percentage, Boston is 9th in the league at 48%. They are also one of the top teams in two-point shooting at 56%, which ranks 4th in the NBA.
Pistons Offense Breakdown
Through 69 games the Pistons are averaging 111.6 points per contest, placing them 24th in the NBA.
At home this season, the Pistons are averaging 111.0 points per game, which is 25th in the NBA. Overall, they are 24th in scoring at 111.6 points per contest. In terms of field goal percentage, Detroit is 19th in the league at 46%. Coming into this game, they have scored less than their season average in four straight contests.
When it comes to three-point shooting, the Pistons are 29th in the NBA at 35%. In terms of pace, they are 7th in the league at 100 possessions per game. In terms of assists, Detroit is 19th in the NBA at 26.2 per contest.
So far this season, the Pistons have outscored the NBA scoring average in just 30.4% of their games. At home, they are averaging 111.0 points per game, compared to 112.2 on the road.
Celtics Team Defense
Currently, the Celtics’ defense holds the 6th rank in the NBA, allowing 109.5 points per game. When it comes to defending inside the arc, the Celtics squad is permitting opposing teams to shoot at a clip of 51.9% inside the arc, and they’re also giving up 34.6% from downtown.
Pistons Team Defense
Coming into today’s game, the Pistons’ defense is giving up an average of 120.1 points per contest. When it comes to forced turnovers, the Pistons are forcing 14.9 per game, which is 29th in the league. They also come into the game sitting 21st in blocked shots at 4.8 per game.
Key Players For The Celtics And Pistons
Our game forecasts for today suggest that Jayson Tatum is set to be the main scorer for the Celtics, recording 26 points and shooting 9/19 from the field. This season, he is averaging 27.1 points per game along with 8.3 boards.
On the flip side, our predictions place Cade Cunningham as the leading scorer for the Pistons. We expect him to conclude the game with a team-high 22 while also collecting 4 rebounds. Throughout the season, he has maintained a 44.9% field goal shooting rate and is averaging 22.2 points per game.
Celtics vs Pistons Trends
- Boston has played well in their previous 5 road games, going 4-1 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 120 points per game while allowing 106. The team also performed well vs the spread at 4-1.
- Through their last three home games, Detroit has an ATS record of just 1-2. However, their overall record was 0-3 while averaging 98 points per game.
- Looking back on the team’s last five games as the underdog, the Pistons have a straight up record of 0-5. Their record vs the spread in these games was 1-4.
- Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Celtics have a straight up record of 8-2. But, their mark vs the spread was just 7-3.
Celtics vs Pistons Prediction
For a point-spread bet in this Celtics vs. Pistons matchup, we’re leaning towards the Pistons at +13. Although our projections show the Celtics winning 115-106, we suggest placing your bet on the Pistons for the point-spread.
Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 224, and our model predicts the Celtics and Pistons to score a combined 221 points. We recommend betting on the under.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:March 22, 2024 Celtics, Pistons