The Detroit Pistons are on a seven-game winning streak and can slide into the 5th seed with a win against the reigning champions tonight. The Boston Celtics are on a back-to-back and arrive winners of six in a row. Who would’ve thought a Celtics-Pistons matchup in late February would be a critical game for both squads? (Celtics seeding isn’t in jeopardy, but they want to continue to string good games together as we gear up for the postseason).
I personally would not have guessed that I would be sitting here on Feb. 26 with the sun shining after 6 p.m. ET in beautiful Michigan, and I would be thinking about a Detroit Pistons game that could 1. Have playoff implications, and 2. Be considered a potential statement game. But here we are. The Pistons are one of the hottest teams in the NBA for the past 45 days, and they get their biggest test in that span. They play the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics.
Jaylen Brown is out with a left thigh contusion, but Kristaps Porzingis is in. Detroit will have to do without two regular bench players — Simone Fontecchio (finger dislocation) and new backup point guard Dennis Schroder (left ankle sprain). This will create a delicate balance of Cade on-off minutes for coach JB Bickerstaff, and it will create a chance for Marcus Sasser to remind the coaching staff that he can score and deserves some minutes.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons +4.5
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (32-26)
Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardaway, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Boston Celtics (42-16)
Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis