Pistons vs. Celtics prediction: NBA odds, picks, best bets
The Pistons are in the record books, and more history could soon be on the way.
Two days after setting the all-time NBA futility mark for consecutive losses in a single season (27), Detroit travels to Boston on Thursday hoping to avoid matching the record for all-time consecutive losses (the 76ers lost 28 straight over 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons).
To do that, they’ll have to beat a Celtics team that owns the NBA’s best record (23-6) after taking three of four on a tough West Coast swing (loss to Golden State, followed by wins at Sacramento and both L.A. teams), and one that hasn’t lost a home game this season (14-0).
And they’ll have to do it as one of the largest underdogs in an NBA game over the last 25 years.
But there’s hope on a few fronts.
The Celtics have listed both Jayson Tatum (ankle) and Jaylen Brown (back) as questionable for Thursday’s game.
The injuries don’t appear to be too serious, but this is the front end of a back-to-back for Boston, which hosts the Raptors on Friday.
It wouldn’t be surprising if one, or both, of the Celtics’ stars sit out against the Pistons.
Tatum leads Boston in both points (26.9) and rebounds (8.5), while Brown is second in scoring at 22.6 per game. That’s a lot of points potentially sitting on the bench.
The Celtics opened as 18.5-point favorites at PointsBet and 17.5 at most other books, but now they are -17.5 across the board, making Thursday’s game the biggest spread in the NBA this season and one of the largest of the last several years.
The biggest spread upset in the NBA in the last 30 years took place last April when the Trail Blazers beat the Timberwolves as 19.5-point underdogs.
Up until that point, NBA teams were 1-51 straight up as underdogs of at least 18 points, per Action Network research analyst Evan Abrams.
Detroit has some recent history of winning in the role of monumental underdog.
In a game that took place two years ago, the Pistons found themselves in a similar situation as they do Thursday night when they entered their game against Milwaukee on Jan. 2, 2022, as 17-point ‘dogs.
And they beat the defending champs … by nine.
So, yes, we’re saying there’s a chance. Even if it’s a very, very slim chance.
The only remaining Pistons player from that team is Cade Cunningham, who was midway through his rookie season.
He scored 19 points in the shocking victory over Milwaukee, which had entered the game having won 12 straight regular-season games against Detroit by an average of 16.7 points.
Cunningham is coming off a 41-point performance against the Nets and is averaging 31.8 points over his last five games.
He’ll need more support from his teammates than he’s been getting if Detroit is to pull off a miracle.
If, as expected, the Pistons lose and tie the 76ers’ all-time mark for consecutive losses Thursday, they have a much better shot in their next game to avoid owning the record outright.
DraftKings lists the visiting Raptors on Saturday as the 9-5 (+180) favorite for the spot where the losing streak ends. Toronto is just 4-9 on the road this season and 3-8 overall this month.
But first things first. Caesars Sportsbook and bet365 have the moneyline for Thursday’s game set at Pistons +950. No, thank you.
But with the possibility that the Celtics could be without one or both of their top players, and with personal pride of not wanting to own the NBA’s futility mark, the game should be closer than the spread suggests.
While the opponents have been suspect, the Pistons have kept their last four games relatively close, with an average margin of loss by fewer than seven points (5.5 points below their differential for the season).
With a significant talent and experience deficit, Detroit might not be able to control the result, but the effort is still there, and pride appears to be a motivating factor.
Rev-rev. Give us the Pistons and the points.
Pick: Detroit +17.5 (-110, BetMGM)
