Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Prediction and Betting Preview
SportsMemo content contributor Kyle Kargel gives his prediction on tonight’s Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics showdown on Wednesday, February 16. At the time of posting, the home Celtics have opened as an 12.5-point home favorite over the road Pistons, with the total sitting at 213 points.
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Wednesday, February 16 | NBA Betting Notes |
---|---|
Point Spread: | Detroit Pistons +12.5 at Boston Celtics |
Total: | 213 Points |
Game Time: | 7:40pm ET / 4:40pm PT |
Arena: | TD Garden in Boston, MA |
TV: | NBC Sports Boston |
Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Preview
The Pistons head to Boston tonight to take on a Celtics team that couldn’t be hotter right now. Boston is coming off a huge 135-87 win last night but guard Marcus Smart hobbled off the court just before halftime and didn’t return to the game.
He’s considered questionable for tonight’s matchup but I could see Boston holding him out as they think they can probably win this one without his services.
The Celtics still have a hub of role players that can take on the brunt of his role including Aaron Nesmith, Grant Williams and newly acquired Derrick White. Let’s see how the Pistons can compete against them in this one though.
Detroit Dismal, Especially on Defense
Detroit is in the midst of an eight game losing streak and they can’t wait for the All-Star break to get here fast enough. Three of the Pistons next ten games are against the Celtics and they also play the Cavaliers, Raptors and Hawks who are all trying to improve their playoff standing in the Eastern Conference.
Rookie Cad Cunningham has been in and out of the starting lineup dealing with injuries and in the most recent five games he has played only averaged just over 11 points on 30% shooting.
Picking up the slack has been second year player Saddiq Bey who has averaged almost 20 points per game in his last five. Newly acquired Marvin Bagley will continue to find his groove in Detroit as he put up 10 points and 8 rebounds in 21 minutes in his season debut.
As a team the Pistons are atrocious on defense as they rank 27th in the league in points per game given up, dead last in opponent three point percentage and 28th in overall field goal percentage given up.
Can Celtics Stay Hot?
Can somebody say trap game? This is the Celtics last game before the All-Star break and they are riding high on their winning streak but they have to come down at some point right?
The Celtics only won by nine the last time these two teams met which was a cover for Detroit. Marcus Smart wasn’t a big factor in that game but Josh Richardson was as he put up 12 points and a +16 rating for the game which was highest on the team.
That’s all great, but Richardson is no longer on the team any longer as he was dealt before the trade deadline. Jason Tatum has been hot as of late putting up 24+ points in each of the team’s last three games.
The team will need Jaylen Brown to keep up the pace he had last night against the 76ers as he put up 29 points in 29 minutes which is far from the 13 points he put up last time the Celtics and Pistons played.
Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Prediction
With the line currently at Boston -12.5, I’m going to take the Pistons plus the points as they’re only missing Frank Jackson for this one. Along with Marcus Smart, forward Robert Williams III is also questionable for this one. Boston may be forced to roll out a couple players not used to getting critical playing time which could be the difference in them covering the huge spread. It just seems to easy to take Boston -12.5 so plug your nose, dive in and take the Pistons +12.5.
Prediction: Detroit Pistions +12.5
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Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Notes from GoldSheet
Boston his coming of a TNT game at Philadelphia where the Celtics appeared to break out a case of dynamite and a box of matches early, blowing the Sixers off the court early in a 135-86 victory.
Nailing 25 treys (a Celt record) will do that to teams. Now Boston returns home to host a Detroit side that’s given the Celtics all they can handle, covering five straight.
Boston not great in 2nd night of back-to-back games (3-5 vs. the number Last eight; 5-5 this season), and the Celtics are a poor home favorite, coming in at 11-16 as TD Garden chalk this season.
Pistons haven’t been good on the road, however, losing 10 of last 11 SU as a visitor, dropping 8 of those against the points.
Boston has been playing great defense (just ask Philly, which shot 28.7% from the field…the whole court, not just beyond the arc). As a result, Celtic games have gone “under” 12-6 since Dec. 18, and the Celtics are the only NBA team holding foes to fewer than 100 points per 100 possessions over the last 15 games.
Detroit is giving up lots of easy points lately, though, yielding 117.6 points per 100 (28th), and note Boston has gone “over” in 6 of last 7 when unrested. Play Detroit and the Under.
NBA Stat Sheet
Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his NBA Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Wednesday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics contest.
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