James Wiseman is set to make his Detroit Pistons debut on Wednesday night after being acquired at the trade deadline, and of course it will come against the NBA’s best team, the Boston Celtics.
However, Wiseman and the Pistons may actually have a shot at an upset tonight.
Boston has a loaded injury report and won’t have Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown available for this game.
Jayson Tatum did not make the trip to Milwaukee at all, I was told. Brad Stevens already announced Tatum will miss tomorrow’s game against the Pistons. In a season of big minutes, sounds like the organization let Tatum take an All-Star break before the actual All-Star break.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) February 14, 2023
Not only that, but the Celtics could be down Derrick White, who has been huge for the team as of late, due to an ear injury.
Celtics Guard Derrick White has stayed behind in Milwaukee tonight to see an ear specialist following the Celtics OT loss vs Bucks. He is having trouble hearing out of his left ear.
— Jared Greenberg (@JaredSGreenberg) February 15, 2023
After the game in MIL the team flew home to Boston. @NBAonTNT @NBATV
White helped the Celtics keep things close in an overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night, but Boston eventually ran out of gas in overtime. The Celtics are a threat regardless of who is on the floor, but should they be 7.5-point favorites without their two All-Star wings?
Vegas seems to think so, but that could give bettors some value on the Pistons on Wednesday night.
Pistons vs. Celtics odds, spread and total
Pistons vs. Celtics prediction and pick
Call me crazy, but I think the Pistons are going to cover in this game and could be live for an upset.
Detroit has played Boston well over the last two seasons despite losing five straight matchups against them.
Detroit has just one loss by more than 12 points against the Celtics, and now it has a chance to hang around with Tatum, Brown and potentially White out for this game.
The Pistons played well on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors, losing by just one point, moving its record as a road dog to 14-13-2 against the spread this season.
That’s not great, but the Pistons have been covering the spread more often than not in this spot. On the second night of a back-to-back with a ton of injuries, I’ll fade Boston here.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.