After one recreation in Charlotte, the Celtics are again at dwelling to host the Detroit Pistons for the 4th and last recreation between these two groups this season. The Celtics received the primary recreation 102-93 on February 4 at Detroit. The Pistons ended the Celtics 9 recreation win streak with a 112-111 win over the Celtics on February 16 in Boston. The Celtics additionally received 113-104 on February 26 at Detroit. The visiting group has received every of the video games thus far. General, the Celtics are 209-112 towards the Pistons all time. They’re 97-44 when the video games are performed in Boston.
The Celtics stay in fifth place within the East. They’ve received their final 4 video games and are 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 23-11 at dwelling and 29-16 towards different Japanese Convention groups. The Celtics are simply half a recreation behind 4th place Chicago, 1 recreation behind third place Philadelphia, 2 video games behind 2nd place Milwaukee and 4 video games out of first place. They’re 1 recreation forward of sixth place Cleveland and 4 forward of seventh place Toronto.
The Pistons are 14th within the East, with solely Orlando beneath them. The Pistons had received 3 straight earlier than dropping their final recreation to the Bulls. They’re 6-4 of their final 10 video games and 7-26 on the street. They’re 14-26 towards different Japanese Convention opponents. The Pistons are 1.5 video games forward of Orlando and 1 recreation forward of the Rockets, who’re final within the West and within the league. The Pistons are 3.5 video games behind thirteenth place Indiana.
The Celtics went 3-0 throughout a house stand earlier than heading to Charlotte for a street win. They’re again dwelling for two video games towards Detroit and Dallas. They are going to then head out on a 4 recreation Western street journey by way of Golden State, Sacramento, Denver and Oklahoma Metropolis. Detroit can also be coming off a 3 recreation street journey the place they went 2-1. They are going to play the Clippers at dwelling earlier than occurring a 3 recreation street journey.
The Celtics stay largely wholesome with simply Aaron Nesmith out with a sprained ankle. The Pistons have 5 gamers out. Hamidou Diallo left Wednesday’s recreation with a finger harm and can miss this recreation. Killian Hayes missed Wednesday’s recreation and is out for this one. Frank Jackson has missed 7 of the final 8 video games with again spasms and will likely be out for no less than one other week. Rodney McGruder left Wednesday’s recreation with a hamstring harm and can miss this recreation. Lastly, Isaiah Stewart is out with a knee harm.
Possible Celtics Starters
PG: Marcus Good
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Al Horford
C: Robert Williams III
Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Grant Williams
Derrick White
Daniel Theis
Luke Kornet
Sam Hauser
Nick Stauskas
Malik Fitts (10 day)
Kelan Martin (10 day)
Accidents
Aaron Nesmith (ankle) out
Two-Method Gamers
Brodric Thomas
Matt Ryan
Head Coach
Ime Udoka
Possible Pistons Starters
PG: Cory Joseph
SG: Cade Cunningham
SF: Saddiq Bey
PF: Jerami Grant
C: Marvin Bagley III
Pistons Reserves
Luka Garza
Saben Lee
Isaiah Livers
Kelly Olynyk
Accidents
Frank Jackson (again) out
Hamidou Diallo (finger) out
Killian Hayes (thigh) out
Rodney McGruder (hamstring) out
Isaiah Stewart (knee) out
Two-Method Gamers
Jamorko Pickett
Chris Smith
Head Coach
Dwane Casey
Key Matchups
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Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports activities
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Jerami Grant
Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photographs
Al Horford vs Jerami Grant
Grant has been a vibrant spot for the Pistons this season. He’s averaging 18.9 factors, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per recreation. He’s taking pictures 42.0% from the sphere and 33.6% from past the arc. He’s able to placing up large numbers and the Celtics want to stick with him on protection to maintain him from having a giant recreation.
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Jayson Tatum
Photograph by Nic Antaya/Getty Photographs
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Saddiq Bey
Photograph by Brian Sevald/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs
Jayson Tatum vs Saddiq Bey
Bey is averaging 16.0 factors, 5.7 rebounds, and a pair of.8 assists per recreation. He’s taking pictures 39.4% from the sphere and 34.6% from past the arc. Bey is able to large video games. In opposition to the Celtics of their final assembly, Bey had 20 factors, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and a pair of steals. Jayson Tatum has been on a tear and the Celtics want him to return up large for them on each ends of the courtroom on this one as effectively.
Honorable Point out
Jaylen Brown vs Cade Cunningham
Cunningham is averaging 16.6 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per recreation. He’s taking pictures 40.4% from the sphere and 32.5% from past the arc. Cunningham had 20 factors, 8 rebounds and 6 assists within the Celtics loss to the Pistons earlier than the break. He has additionally had 5 straight video games of 20 or extra factors per recreation. The Celtics have to play protection and gradual him down on this one.
Keys to the Sport
Protection – Protection will at all times be key to profitable each recreation. The Celtics are tops within the league with a 105.6 defensive score whereas the Pistons are twenty fifth with a defensive score of 113.1. The Pistons are twenty ninth within the league, taking pictures 32.3% from past the arc. Within the Celtics loss to the Pistons in February, the Celtics allowed the Pistons to shoot 53.3% on threes. The Celtics have to return into this recreation with the mindset that they should play robust protection and never permit the Pistons to have any likelihood at one other taking pictures recreation like that one.
Rebound – Rebounding is essential to provide the Celtics additional possessions and to restrict possessions for his or her opponents. The Celtics are averaging 46.3 rebounds per recreation (4th) whereas the Pistons are averaging 43.1 rebounds (twenty seventh). The Pistons are sixth in offensive rebounding with 11.2 per recreation and they’re eighth with 14.0 second likelihood factors per recreation. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics want to provide additional effort to beat the Pistons to rebounds. After they present additional effort on the boards, it typically exhibits up in different areas of the sport as effectively.
Bench Play – The Pistons are sixth within the league in bench scoring with 38.7 factors per recreation from their reserves. They’ve 5 gamers out, nonetheless, and so it might restrict their bench on this recreation. The Celtics at occasions battle when their starters sit. The Celtics have to get good manufacturing from their reserves on each ends of the courtroom, particularly on protection. The Pistons have former Celtic Kelly Olynyk coming off their bench and, prior to now, he has been motivated to have large video games towards the Celtics. He’s averaging 9.2 factors per recreation and at all times performs effectively towards the Celtics.
Keep Centered – The Celtics should keep targeted on enjoying the appropriate means. They need to care for the ball as a result of the Pistons are eighth within the league with 17.1 factors off of turnovers per recreation. The Celtics need to deal with making crisp passes and on cautious ball dealing with. In addition they need to deal with taking good photographs and making them. The Celtics have to return into the sport targeted and maintain that focus all through the sport.
Don’t Underestimate – The Celtics have been enjoying onerous, particularly on the defensive finish. That has resulted in profitable 15 of their final 17 video games. It might be straightforward to let up towards one of many worst groups within the league however that may be a mistake. The Pistons already beat them as soon as in Boston when the Celtics let up on protection and allowed the Pistons to shoot means over their averages. They need to play just like the Pistons are the most effective group within the league as a result of on any given night time in the event you underestimate a group, they are going to beat you, regardless of their file. The Pistons have crushed Toronto, Milwaukee, Miami, Boston and Cleveland already this season and people wins have been possible as a result of their opponents underestimated them.
X-Components
Residence Sport Revenge – The Celtics are at dwelling the place the Pistons already beat them as soon as this season. The Celtics have to do not forget that loss and are available out prepared to guard dwelling courtroom and avenge that loss. Hopefully the Backyard will likely be loud and can be capable of distract the younger Pistons group and the Celtics will likely be able to play their finest on this recreation.
Officiating – Officiating is at all times an x-factor. Each crew calls the sport in another way. Some name it tight and name each little bit of contact whereas others permit extra bodily play. Some favor the house group whereas others name each side evenly. The Celtics have to regulate to the way in which the refs are calling the sport and never permit no calls and dangerous calls to have an effect on their deal with enjoying the sport.
DraftKings
According to our friends at DraftKings, the Celtics are a 14-point favourite at dwelling of their last recreation towards the Pistons. Contemplating how the remainder of the common season sequence has gone, that’s a little bit of a shock. Regardless of the prior three video games coming in Boston’s revival within the new 12 months, they’ve all been slogs towards the East’s second worst group.
Bu don’t underestimate Detroit’s 18-48 file. They’re large, they play onerous, Cade Cunningham is the actual deal, and so they’ve stepped up towards convention opponents just lately. Because the All-Star break, they’ve beat the Cavaliers, Hornets, Raptors, and Hawks and have been in aggressive video games towards the Celtics and Bulls. Nevertheless, the Pistons will likely be with out some key function gamers in Stewart, Diallo, and Hayes. That’s an honest chunk of dimension and athleticism out of their rotation.
Tonight’s recreation can also be set as much as be a entice recreation, with the 40-26 Dallas Mavericks coming to city on Sunday on Kevin Garnett’s quantity retirement ceremony, too. Detroit will look to muck up the sport and make it ugly. They’re one of many league’s finest offensive rebounding groups and so they foul at a excessive fee. Nevertheless, the Celtics have been in some large video games final week and have examined their mettle towards some bodily groups. Tatum is on a ridiculous scorching streak and Boston has introduced the nasty on the defensive finish all 12 months.
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