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The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons will clash in the first game of the NBA regular season this afternoon. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m. ET from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The game will broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.
The Celtics are 1.5-point favorites over the Pistons on the spread, with the over/under set at 222.5 total points. Boston is a -120 moneyline favorite to win outright, while Detroit is listed as a +100 underdog to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Celtics vs. Pistons predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, October 20.
Celtics vs Pistons Prediction
- Celtics vs Pistons pick: Pistons +1.5 (-110)
My Celtics vs. Pistons best bet is Detroit to cover the spread (+1.5), with the best price currently available at FanDuel. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
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Celtics vs Pistons Odds
| Celtics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 222.5 -104o / -118u | -120 |
| Pistons Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 222.5 -104o / -118u | +100 |
- Celtics vs Pistons spread: Pistons +1.5 (-110), Celtics -1.5 (-110)
- Celtics vs Pistons over/under: 222.5 (-104o / -118u)
- Celtics vs Pistons moneyline: Celtics -120, Pistons +100
Celtics vs Pistons NBA Preview
Boston Celtics Betting Preview
I want to be clear right off the bat: I am high on the Celtics this season. This is a matchup between my top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
I expect Paul George to slide in pretty seamlessly alongside Boston's core. They are going to be a formidable group once again.
I also know that there is an inherent math advantage for Boston in this specific matchup because Detroit traditionally doesn't take enough three-pointers.
However, I expect that gap to be mitigated somewhat by the roster changes Detroit made and some of the tweaks they've implemented in their offense.
Boston is elite, but I don't think they are decidedly ahead of Detroit right now.
Detroit Pistons Betting Preview
I am not predicting a fall-off from the Pistons this season. I actually really liked their offseason and how they retooled this roster.
For the system that they run, John Collins is a much more complete player than Tobias Harris was. They also made a sneaky-good addition in Isaiah Joe, who provides real, pure shooting and spacing around Cade Cunningham during those crucial bench minutes.
On the developmental front, Ausar Thompson looks significantly better on the ball than he did last year.
I was initially concerned about Jalen Duren coming into the year—I wasn't sure what kind of shape he was in or what he'd been doing—and then he came into the preseason and destroyed everything in his path like Godzilla.
When you look at the floor, I love the center matchup for Detroit here. I lean toward Cunningham over both of Boston's guards, and I think the Pistons' length matches up well with Boston from a pure physicality standpoint.
Celtics vs Pistons Pick, Betting Analysis
This really just comes down to a power rating play for me.
I have the Pistons power-rated higher than the Celtics in this spot. I actually make this line Detroit -2.8, so getting them as an underdog at home (+1.5) is excellent value.
Detroit is good enough to get the respect of being favored in this matchup on their home floor. I think this line is simply incorrect, and I am happily taking the points with the Pistons to cover the number.
Pick: Pistons +1.5 (-110)
Celtics vs Pistons Betting Trends
