Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons Picks and Predictions for Tuesday October 20 2026
The NBA opens Tuesday afternoon in Detroit, and I still can’t get over the three o’clock start. Most people will be at work when Boston and the Pistons tip off. Anyway, Detroit is laying 1.5 points, which tells you the oddsmakers aren’t giving the Celtics much credit for being Boston. The Pistons won 60 games last year. They also beat the Celtics three out of four times. I’m not sure why anybody would be surprised they’re favored.
The Celtics visit Little Caesars Arena on October 20, 2026, with tipoff at 3:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. Detroit is favored by 1.5 points, and the total is 222.5. Both teams are starting from 0-0, but they’ve got plenty of history from last season. Boston also has a new look after trading Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia. Check out our free NBA picks for more predictions throughout the season.
Boston Celtics Still Have Plenty Of Basketball Left In Them
Boston went 56-26 last season and was 26-15 on the road. That’s a good basketball team, even if it wasn’t quite the monster everybody got used to seeing. The Celtics lost three of four to Detroit, including a 104-103 game at Little Caesars Arena in January. They finished the preseason 4-0, beating Philadelphia 125-120 in overtime Friday. I wouldn’t put much stock in that last score. Boston started a bunch of guys who probably won’t see much time Tuesday. But the Celtics did get through preseason without a loss.
Boston averaged 114.9 points last season and gave up about 107 a game. They weren’t a fast team, either, playing at roughly 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes. The Celtics took care of the basketball better than anybody, averaging only 11.5 turnovers. That’s one reason I don’t mind taking points with them. Detroit can pressure the ball, but Boston isn’t a team that usually hands out free possessions. The three-point shooting is another matter. The Celtics made 36.7% from outside last year, but against Detroit they hit only 34.5%. That difference matters when you’re taking more than 40 threes a game against the same opponent.
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Jayson Tatum is still the guy everything runs through. He averaged 21.8 points and 10 rebounds last season, while Derrick White handed out 5.4 assists a game. Paul George is the new piece after the Brown trade. He’s not going to play exactly like Brown, and I wouldn’t expect Boston to have everything figured out in October. But there’s still enough here to win games. The Celtics have also been sorting through a long list of day-to-day injury designations heading into the opener. I’d check the final report before betting, especially with several regulars having sat out portions of preseason.
Detroit Pistons Aren’t Sneaking Up On Anybody
Detroit went 60-22 last season, including 31-9 at home. That’s not a fluke record. The Pistons finished first in the East, and they beat Boston 119-113, 112-105, and 104-103 in three of their four meetings. The only loss was 117-114 in Boston. Every game was decided by seven points or less. Detroit also finished preseason with wins over Minnesota and Toronto, scoring 128 and 129 points. The offense looks ready, although preseason defense isn’t exactly something I’d trust.
The Pistons averaged about 116 points a game last season and did a good job making opponents uncomfortable. Boston found that out. In four meetings, the Celtics averaged only 109.5 points and shot 43.1% from the floor. That’s well below Boston’s usual shooting numbers. Detroit also held the Celtics to 103 points in their last meeting. The Pistons don’t have to chase Boston all over the court if they can keep the ball out of the paint and contest those outside shots. Of course, that’s easier said than done when Boston gets hot from three.
Cade Cunningham runs the show for Detroit. The Pistons depend on him to create offense, especially when the game slows down. Jalen Duren gives them another option around the basket, and that’s an area where Detroit can cause trouble. The Pistons did lose Isaiah Stewart during the offseason, so the frontcourt defense won’t look exactly the same. That’s something worth watching. Detroit has enough size to bother Boston, but losing a good defensive big man isn’t nothing. The Pistons need their other frontcourt players to pick up that work.
Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons Picks and Predictions
Boston Celtics +1.5 (-110)
I’m taking Boston and the 1.5 points. Detroit beat the Celtics three times last season, and I haven’t forgotten that. The Pistons are also 31-9 at home from a year ago. But look at those four games. Seven points was the biggest margin. One was decided by a point, another by three. These teams played close basketball, and Boston was still a 56-win club. The Celtics don’t turn it over much, which helps against Detroit’s pressure. George replacing Brown is a question, but Boston still has enough scoring and experience to win. At a number this small, I’m comfortable taking the Celtics. Wouldn’t surprise me if they won outright.
Under 222.5 Points (-110)
I’ll go under 222.5. The four meetings last season finished with 232, 231, 217, and 207 points. The last two were both under this number, and Boston’s offense had a tough time against Detroit. The Celtics averaged 109.5 points in the series and shot only 43.1%. They’re also working a new player into the offense, which might take a few games. Detroit can score, and those preseason games were high-scoring, so there’s some risk here. But Boston plays at a slower pace, doesn’t give away many possessions, and Detroit has shown it can make the Celtics work for shots. I’m expecting something around 110-108.
Final Picks: Boston Celtics +1.5 (-110) and Under 222.5 Points (-110)
This preview was completed October 18, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting lineups may change before Tuesday’s game.
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