Game Thread: Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons

The Celtics continue their road trip with a Saturday night game against the Detroit Pistons. It will be the first in a home and home against the Pistons with the first game at their place, then coming back to Boston on Monday night for consecutive meetings. The Celtics are coming off a solid come from behind win against the Thunder on Thursday. It calmed some trepidation that had come over the Celtics fan base after a bumpy start to the season.

The Pistons have started the season off with a great 4-0 start. They have taken down the Nets, the 76ers, and the Cavaliers at home and the Bulls on the road. It has been an impressive start to gain some notice in the Eastern Conference. This could be a tricky game for the Celtics as the Pistons are riding their hot streak.

Blake Griffin is leading the league in points per game averaging an impressive 33.8 ppg. Only two games ago, he scored a career high 50 points against the 76ers. He is, of course, the face of this franchise after the trade from Los Angeles last season. One of the real tests for Boston will once again come down low. In their last game, Andre Drummond dominated the win with a 26 point and 22 rebound output. He is always a problem for Boston, and without Baynes for this one, it will be a focal point of this matchup. Fortunately, the Celtics did a good job containing a similar player, Steven Adams, in their last game against the Thunder.

The Celtics finally found their shooting in the second half of that game against OKC. The team shot 0-11 in the first half, and they flipped the switch in the second-half comeback. Hopefully, Boston can keep this going into this one. Horford hitting his threes will draw Drummond out of the paint and make him uncomfortable. Look for a high-scoring affair in this one, if the offense starts clicking.

The injuries for the Celtics will be Aron Baynes who will be out again for tonight after Stevens said he wants to be cautious with him and Daniel Theis who is questionable after he sustained a foot injury in Oklahoma City. The Pistons will not have Luke Kennard after he injured his shoulder last game.

The starters will be the same from Thursday night in Oklahoma City. Marcus Morris, who led the Celtics against the Thunder, will look to get a good number of minutes tonight as well. He will be a good physical defender to match up against Blake Griffin. With both these teams coming in off wins, this will be one to watch. It can be dual screened with the Red Sox game coming on at 8 PM.

Projected Starters

PG - Kyrie Irving – Reggie Jackson

SG - Jaylen Brown – Reggie Bullock

SF - Gordon Hayward – Stanley Johnson

PF - Jayson Tatum – Blake Griffin

C - Al Horford – Andre Drummond

Injuries

Boston – Aron Baynes (Hamstring); Daniel Theis (Foot) Jabari Bird (Personal)

Detroit- Luke Kennard (Shoulder)

How to Watch

Time - 7:00 PM EST

TV – NBC Sports Boston