The Detroit Pistons (20-5), the hottest team in the Eastern Conference, head to Boston for a marquee matchup against the defending champion Boston Celtics (15-10) on Monday night. This early-season clash at TD Garden pits two Atlantic Division rivals against each other, with the Pistons looking to build on their surprising dominance while the Celtics aim to snap a mini-slump without their superstar forward. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. ET, broadcast on Peacock, NBC Sports Boston, and Fox Sports Detroit. With Detroit riding a wave of momentum and Boston dealing with key absences, this game has all the makings of a high-scoring affair that could shift the Eastern Conference balance.
Venue Location
TD Garden
100 Legends Way
Boston, MA 02114
The iconic arena, home to the Celtics since 1995, seats 19,156 for NBA games and is known for its electric atmosphere, especially during rivalry tilts like this one. Expect a raucous crowd as Boston seeks revenge after splitting the season series so far.
Tipoff: 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT)
Broadcast: Peacock (streaming), NBCS-BOS (local), FDSDET (local)
Injury Report
Injuries could play a pivotal role, particularly for Boston, where the absence of Jayson Tatum looms large. Detroit enters relatively healthy, with only G League and two-way contract players sidelined. Here’s the latest from the official NBA injury report:
| Team | Player | Status | Injury/Reason | Estimated Return |
| Pistons | Isaac Jones | Out | G League – On Assignment (Knee) | TBD |
| Bobi Klintman | Out | G League – On Assignment (Ankle) | TBD | |
| Wendell Moore Jr. | Out | G League – Two-Way | TBD | |
| Tolu Smith | Out | G League – On Assignment | TBD | |
| Celtics | Jayson Tatum | Out | Right Achilles Repair | April 1, 2026 |
| Ron Harper Jr. | Out | G League – Two-Way (Knee) | TBD | |
| Max Shulga | Out | G League – Two-Way | TBD | |
| Amari Williams | Questionable | Hand | Day-to-Day | |
| Chris Boucher | Available | Illness (cleared) | N/A |
Tatum’s extended absence (he’s missed the last 15 games post-surgery) forces Boston to lean heavily on Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. For Detroit, the core rotation—Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and Tobias Harris—is fully available, giving them a depth edge.
Key Player Matchups
Without Tatum, this becomes a battle of complementary stars and emerging talents. Detroit’s high-octane offense will test Boston’s perimeter defense, while the Celtics’ home-court experience could shine in transition. Here are the top head-to-head battles to watch:
Cade Cunningham (DET PG) vs. Derrick White (BOS PG)
Cunningham, averaging 26.9 PPG and 8.0 APG, has been the engine of Detroit’s 20-5 start, dissecting defenses with his playmaking. White (18.2 PPG, 4.5 APG) steps up as Boston’s primary ball-handler in Tatum’s absence, using his length (6’11” wingspan) to disrupt drives. Edge: Cunningham—his recent 29-point explosion vs. Portland gives him momentum.
Jaylen Brown (BOS SF) vs. Ausar Thompson (DET SF)
Brown (29.1 PPG, 8.0 RPG) is Boston’s offensive lifeline now, torching nets at 48% FG. He’ll face Thompson (10.5 PPG, elite defender with 2.1 SPG), Detroit’s athletic wing who could hound Brown into tough shots. Edge: Brown—his 42-point outburst vs. the Knicks last week shows he’s peaking.
Jalen Duren (DET C) vs. Al Horford/Neemias Queta (BOS C)
Duren (11.3 RPG, 52% FG) dominates the glass and paint for Detroit’s league-leading rebounding margin (+6.2). Horford (veteran spacing) and Queta (8.3 RPG) will rotate, but Boston’s frontcourt thins without Tatum’s versatility. Edge: Duren—expect double-digit boards in a battle for second-chance points.
Tobias Harris (DET PF) vs. Sam Hauser (BOS SF/PF)
Harris (18.5 PPG, 40% 3PT) provides spacing for Detroit’s drives, while Hauser (sharpshooter off the bench) counters with volume threes. This matchup favors Detroit’s size.
Bonus Prop Watch: Brown Over 29.5 Points (-109) and Cunningham Over 26.5 Points (-110) are strong plays, as both have cleared these lines in 70% of December games.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away | Division | Conference | Streak |
| Pistons | 20-5 | 11-2 Home / 9-3 Away | 5-1 | 14-3 | W3 |
| Celtics | 15-10 | 9-4 Home / 6-6 Away | 3-3 | 11-6 | L1 |
Detroit leads the East by three games, boasting the league’s best net rating (+12.4) and fewest turnovers (11.2 per game). Boston sits third in the Atlantic but has slipped to 4th in the conference, hampered by Tatum’s injury and a -2.1 net rating without him.
Recent Team Forms
Both teams enter on hot streaks but with a recent hiccup for Boston. Detroit’s balanced attack (48.2% FG, 37.1% 3PT) has overwhelmed opponents, while Boston’s defense (108.3 allowed) ranks top-5 but falters without Tatum.
Detroit Pistons Last 5 Games (4-1):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Dec 12 | vs. ATL | W 142-115 | Cunningham: 25 PTS, 9 AST; Duren: 14 REB |
| Dec 6 | vs. MIL | W 124-112 | Harris: 22 PTS; 52% 3PT team |
| Dec 5 | vs. POR | W 122-116 | Cunningham: 29 PTS, 9 AST; 12 TOs forced |
| Dec 3 | @ MIL | L 109-113 | Low-scoring; 38% FG |
| Dec 1 | vs. ATL | W 99-98 | Defensive grind; Duren: 12 REB |
Boston Celtics Last 5 Games (4-1):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Dec 11 | @ MIL | L 101-116 | Brown: 30 PTS; Poor 3PT (28%) |
| Dec 7 | @ TOR | W 121-113 | White: 25 PTS, 9 AST |
| Dec 5 | vs. LAL | W 126-105 | Brown: 30 PTS, 8 REB, 8 AST |
| Dec 4 | @ WAS | W 146-101 | White: 30 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST; Blowout |
| Dec 2 | vs. NYK | W 123-117 | Brown: 42 PTS |
Detroit’s wins have been high-scoring (avg. 121.4 PPG), while Boston thrives in bursts but struggles on the road lately (2-3 in last 5 away).
Series History
The all-time series favors Boston heavily (257-142), including five playoff meetings from 1985-1991 where the Celtics won twice and Detroit three times en route to back-to-back titles. In the regular season, Boston holds a 65% win rate since 2000.This season: Split 1-1
Nov 26, 2025: Celtics 117-114 (Brown 33 PTS; thriller at TD Garden)
Oct 26, 2025: Pistons 119-113 (Cunningham 25 PTS; Detroit’s home upset)
Detroit has covered the spread in 3 of the last 5 head-to-heads, winning outright twice as underdogs. Games average 228.6 total points, hitting the Over in 60% of recent tilts.
Betting Trends
Key Trends:
Pistons: 17-3 SU in last 20; 14-11 ATS overall; 1-4 ATS in last 5 road games; Over in 10 of last 15 (avg. 238.2 points).
Celtics: 9-5 SU as home favorites; 14-10 ATS; Over in 4 of last 5 (avg. 235.4 points); 64.3% win rate as -127 or shorter ML favorites.
Head-to-Head: Under in 3 of last 5; Pistons 4-1 ATS vs. Boston since 2023.
Game Odds
Detroit Pistons 230.5
Boston Celtics – 1.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, December 14, 2025
