Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons Picks and Predictions December 4th 2024

Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons December 4th 2024

At 7:30 ET, the 9-14 Pistons will be in Boston to take on the 17-4 Celtics. The Pistons are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference, while the Celtics are 2nd.

Right now, Boston is favored by 13.5 points and the over/under line is set at 220.5. NBCS will have coverage of this Eastern Conference matchup.

Pistons vs. Celtics Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics
• Where: Boston at TD Garden
• Date: Wednesday, December 4th
• Betting Odds BOS -13.5, DET +698 | BOS -1092 O/U 220.5

The Pistons Can Win If…

The Pistons fell to 9-14 on the season after a 128-107 home loss to the Bucks on Tuesday. Detroit entered the game as +3 point underdogs but failed to cover the spread, losing by 21. The total points for the game reached 235, surpassing the O/U line of 221.5 by 13.5 points.

Milwaukee took control with a 14-0 run, turning a 64-55 deficit into a 69-64 lead. The Bucks outscored the Pistons 42-28 in the 2nd quarter and 32-29 in the 3rd. Detroit limited Milwaukee to 18 points in the 4th but only managed 19 points themselves.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 23 points and 6 assists in their 128-107 loss to the Bucks, shooting 56.2% from the field and hitting 3 threes at a 50% clip. Tobias Harris added 16 points, with 9 of those coming in the 2nd quarter, while Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 15 points, scoring 7 in the 3rd.

Jalen Duren had a strong start, scoring 9 of his 11 points in the 1st quarter. As a team, the Pistons shot 46% from the field and made 11 threes at 33.3%.

Defensively, the Pistons struggled early, giving up 36 points in the 1st quarter and 42 in the 2nd, leading to a 128-107 loss to the Bucks. They tightened up in the 4th, allowing just 18 points, but the damage was done.

Detroit allowed Milwaukee to shoot 56% from the field, including 23 threes at a 56% clip. The Pistons sent the Bucks to the line 21 times, where they made 15 free throws. On the glass, Detroit gave up 4 offensive rebounds while recording 11 steals and 7 blocks.

• Across their ten previous road games, Detroit has an ATS mark of 5-4-1. Their straight up record in these matchups was 5-5 while averaging 112 points per game.
• Going back to their last three games as the underdog, the Pistons have a straight up record of 1-2. But, their mark vs the spread was just 1-2.
• Over their last three games, the Pistons have an over/under record of 2-1 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

The Celtics Can Win If…

Boston improved to 17-4 this season with a 108-89 win over Miami on Monday. The Celtics, who were favored by 9.5 points, covered the spread with the victory. The game’s total points of 197 fell well short of the 220.5-point over/under line.

Boston took control in the 2nd quarter, outscoring Miami 32-20, and extended their lead by holding the Heat to 18 points in the 3rd quarter. The Celtics entered the 4th quarter with an 85-63 lead, allowing them to cruise to the win despite being outscored 26-23 in the final period.

Jaylen Brown’s 29 points led the Celtics to a win over the Heat, despite shooting 38.1% from the field. Payton Pritchard added 25 points, hitting 5 threes at 41.7%, while Derrick White also made 5 threes, finishing with 19 points and 8 assists.

Boston connected on 19 threes as a team, shooting 34.5% from deep and 43.8% overall. Brown scored 13 points in the 3rd quarter, while White added 8 points in the 4th.

The Celtics put on a defensive clinic against the Heat, holding them to just 89 points on 35% shooting. Boston was especially strong in the 3rd quarter, where they allowed just 18 points. The Celtics also limited Miami’s three-point shooting, giving up only 8 threes on 22% shooting from beyond the arc.

Boston sent Miami to the free-throw line 23 times, where the Heat converted 19. The Celtics controlled the boards with 40 defensive rebounds, though they did allow 11 offensive rebounds. They also contributed 5 steals and 9 blocks in the win.

• Although Boston has a straight up record of 2-1 in their last three home games, they have not held up as well vs. the spread going 0-3. The team averaged 119 points per game in these games.
• Boston has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 3-0 SU and 3-0 ATS in their last three games.
• In their last five games, the Celtics have an over/under record of 3-2 and are 2-3 vs. the spread.

The Lean

For a point-spread bet in this Pistons vs. Celtics matchup, we’re leaning towards the Pistons at +13.5. Although our projections show the Celtics winning 143-130, we suggest placing your bet on the Pistons for the point-spread.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 220.5 and given that our model is projecting 273 points between the teams, we like the over.

NBA Picks & Predictions

Celtics Aim to Extend Defensive Dominance Against the Pistons

The Boston Celtics showcased their best defensive performance of the season on Monday, overpowering the Miami Heat 108-89 despite missing four key players. As they prepare to host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, coach Joe Mazzulla is eager to see a repeat of that effort.

Celtics’ Defensive Surge

In their victory over Miami, the Celtics held the Heat to just 35.6% shooting (31 of 87) and limited them to under 90 points for the first time this season. This defensive display stood out despite the absence of Kristaps Porzingis (injury management), Jrue Holiday (left knee), Al Horford (toe sprain), and Sam Hauser (personal reasons).

Luke Kornet, stepping into the starting center role, was instrumental in anchoring the defense. Kornet tied his career high with six blocked shots and earned praise from Mazzulla, who highlighted the center’s physicality and rim protection as game-changing elements.

“When he plays with that level of physicality on both ends of the floor, it makes our team different,” Mazzulla said. “His screening and rim protection give us versatility. We need him to keep playing at that high level.”

Payton Pritchard’s Stellar Run

Payton Pritchard further fueled Boston’s success with an outstanding performance off the bench. He scored 25 points, including five 3-pointers, marking his fourth consecutive game with at least 20 points. This consistent output strengthens his candidacy for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award.

Injury Updates and Lineup Outlook

Boston may receive reinforcements against Detroit, as Porzingis and Horford are expected to return. However, Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum are listed as questionable due to knee concerns.

Despite their strong 3-1 record in NBA Cup group play, the Celtics were eliminated from the tournament following Tuesday’s results. Nevertheless, Boston has momentum, winning eight of their last nine games and their past five at home.

Pistons Seek a Turnaround

The Pistons enter Wednesday’s game on a different trajectory. They fell 128-107 to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, marking their second straight loss and sixth in the past eight games. Detroit also exited the NBA Cup despite a 3-1 group-stage record.

Cade Cunningham continues to be a bright spot for Detroit, scoring 23 points against Milwaukee. Reflecting on the game, Cunningham highlighted the significance of these experiences for a young team.

“This was the first meaningful game of my [NBA] career and for many of my teammates,” Cunningham said. “Now, our focus is on making the playoffs and getting that feeling again.”

Lessons for Detroit

Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff sees value in these tough losses, particularly against championship-caliber teams like Milwaukee.

“The NBA doesn’t let you skip steps,” Bickerstaff said. “Every successful team has faced setbacks and learned from them. That’s what we have to do—use these moments to grow.”

However, the Pistons’ defensive issues remain glaring. Against Milwaukee, they surrendered 78 points in the first half alone and trailed by 19 at halftime.

Matchup Outlook

The Celtics enter as heavy favorites, leveraging a stifling defense and home-court advantage. With players like Pritchard and Kornet stepping up in the absence of key starters, Boston’s depth and adaptability have been critical to their success.

For Detroit, containing Boston’s surging offense and maintaining defensive discipline will be essential. While Cunningham continues to shine, the Pistons’ youthful squad must show resilience against one of the league’s most balanced teams.

This matchup presents a compelling narrative: the Celtics’ quest to maintain their defensive identity against a Pistons team hungry for growth and consistency.