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  • The Celtics are 19-5 and have the best record in the Atlantic Division.
  • Detroit is 10-15 and currently sits last in the Central Division.
  • These teams last played on Dec. 4, with the Celtics claiming a 129-102 victory.

One of the games on Thursday night’s NBA slate features the Boston Celtics taking on the Detroit Pistons. The Celtics have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, while Detroit sits at the No. 11 spot in the conference playoff race. Our Celtics vs. Pistons prediction foresees the Celtics coming out on top in this matchup.

Celtics Look To Bounce Back

Following a 16-3 start, the defending champs have gone 3-2 in their last five outings. And their recent three-game winning streak ended with a 127-121 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night. All five starters scored in double figures, spearheaded by a 23-point, four-rebound effort from Jrue Holiday. Jaylen Brown added 22 points and six assists, while Kristaps Porzingis added 19 points and eight boards.

On the other hand, Boston shot 40 percent from the field and converted just 18 of its 60 attempts from beyond the arc. The Celtics were outscored 64-40 in the paint, which enabled Memphis to snap a 10-game road losing streak in this series.

Pistons Hope To Build On Recent Success

Detroit posted a 7-11 record in its first 18 games and has gone 3-4 across its previous seven contests. In the team’s recent outing — a 120-111 win over the New York Knicks on Saturday night — Cade Cunningham led the way with an impressive triple-double that included 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists. Jaden Ivey added 16 points, while Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Detroit jumped out to an early-double-digit advantage and led by 17 points in the third quarter. However, New York finished with a 27-14 outburst over the final 10 minutes, trimming the deficit to 89-85 heading into the final frame. The Knicks got within two points before the Pistons responded with a 12-2 run that pushed the lead back to 14 points (103-89) with 7:55 left in regulation.

Celtics vs Pistons Prediction: Boston Coasts To Victory

Despite recent losses against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Grizzlies, the Celtics have won eight of their last 10 games. Boston is a top-three team from an offensive standpoint. Additionally, this squad is ranked ninth in scoring defense (110.7 PPG) and 10th in defensive rating (111.5 Points Per 100 Possessions). Meanwhile, although the Pistons notched an impressive win over the Knicks, this group has had its fair share of struggles at both ends of the court. Simply put, look for the Cs to get the win in this matchup.

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