The Detroit Pistons have a sea of momentum, but chasing history–in the opposition’s floor no less–is always quite the challenge – not to mention, the Boston Celtics themselves are building momentum.
Catch the game tomorrow, November 27th, at 8:30 AM, Manila time.
AWAY: Detroit Pistons (15-2, 7-1 ROAD)
Projected starting five:
- Cade Cunningham
- Duncan Robinson
- Ron Holland
- Ausar Thompson
- Jalen Duren
The Pistons are on the brink of something special. They’re riding a 13-game winning streak and now have a chance to set a new franchise record with number fourteen. Doing it on the road is never easy, especially in a building like Boston’s, but that’s the challenge when you’re chasing history. Focus, discipline, and composure will matter just as much as talent.
Cade Cunningham continues to lead the way, blending scoring and playmaking at an elite level. Jalen Duren’s growth on the offensive end has also been a huge part of their success, giving Detroit a reliable interior weapon who can finish strong, rebound, and generate second-chance opportunities. Their two-man dynamic has been one of the league’s quiet breakout stories.
Detroit has good confidence heading into this matchup – they already beat the Celtics earlier this season, 119–113, last October 27th. Cunningham, Duren, and Ausar Thompson all dropped 20-plus in that win, with both Duren and Thompson posting double-doubles. Detroit knows it can hang with Boston, but doing it again, on the road, with a record on the line, could be tougher than usual.
HOME: Boston Celtics (9-8, 5-4 HOME)
Projected starting five:
- Derrick White
- Payton Pritchard
- Josh Minott
- Jaylen Brown
- Neemas Queta
The Celtics are coming off a high-scoring 138–129 win over the Orlando Magic, their best offensive showing of the season. They’ve now won four of their last five and are trending in the right direction at the perfect time. Beyond getting another tally in the win column, Boston has extra motivation: they want payback for that October loss to Detroit, and they’d love nothing more than to shut down a rival’s attempt at setting a franchise record.
Top scorer Jaylen Brown lit up the Pistons for 41 points in that earlier matchup, with Payton Pritchard adding a big 21-point, 10-rebound double-double. They’ll need similar energy from their top guys, especially since Detroit’s confidence is sky-high. Derrick White is still shooting a career-worst 35.3% from the field, but he’s been trending upward lately, and Boston will gladly take any return to form.
The Celtics also need stronger showings from Anfernee Simons, Neemias Queta, and Sam Hauser: three guys who can dramatically change the flow of a game when they’re locked in. Defensively, Boston is second in the league in points allowed per game, but only 16th in defensive efficiency. That gap is telling, and if they want to slow down a red-hot Pistons team, fixing the consistency on that end will be crucial.
PICKS
Spread: Celtics (+2.5)
Over/Under: Under (229.5)
