In the Thursday NBA picks, the Detroit Pistons are massive underdogs at the Boston Celtics and perhaps that’s entirely understandable.
Straight up, Detroit has lost 11 games in a row to the Celtics. Six visits to Boston’s TD Garden during that long skid have resulted in setbacks.
No wonder then that oddsmakers are setting the Celtics as prohibitive 13.5-point home favorites over the Pistons. Interestingly, the average margin of victory for Boston during the six-game home-court win streak over Detroit is 14.3 points.
Let’s look at the latest betting line. Remember, odds are subject to change.
 | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Pistons | +13.5 (-110) | +588 | O 229 (-110) |
| Boston Celtics | -13.5 (-110) | -909 | U 229 (-110) |
One of three NBA games on tap on a light Thursday NBA schedule, this is the one we are selecting to focus on in our NBA picks and best bets.
Prior to making any bets on your NBA picks, you definitely should be checking out the latest NBA Vegas odds. You can also assess the most recent developments in NBA prop bets. You should also be taking advantage of these Vegas betting site bonuses to make the most of your NBA betting.
The Pistons are 3-6 against the spread in their last nine games against the Celtics. At Boston, however, they’ve fared much better. Detroit 6-3 ATS in the last nine games played at TD Garden.
Overall, Detroit is 3-7 both SU and ATS through the club’s past 10 games. The Pistons are 6-3 ATS in their last nine meetings with Atlantic Division opposition.
Boston has covered in just one of the team’s last six games. The Celtics are 10-2 SU in their past 12 games and 7-1 SU in their last eight home games. However, they are 1-7 ATS through their last eight meetings with Eastern Conference squads and 0-5 ATS in their last five games facing Central Division teams.
The over has hit in each of the last three Pistons vs Celtics games, as well as in five of the past six meetings. Six of the last seven games between the two teams played at Boston also hit on the over.
Five of Detroit’s last six games have gone over on the total. The NBA picks display that each of the Pistons last six road games hit for the over, as have four of their last five meetings with teams from the Eastern Conference.
The Pistons are 6-12 SU as the betting underdog this season. Detroit is 8-5-1 ATS as a road team. Boston is 4-9 ATS as a home team. The Celtics are 19-4 SU as the favorite in the betting line.
The Pistons have been enjoying a five-day break from game action since beating the New York Knicks 120-11 on Dec. 7. That victory was bringing to an end a three-game losing streak. Detroit lost 130-120 to Boston on Dec. 1. This will be Detroit’s only game during a nine-day span.
At 10-15, the Pistons are off to their best start to an NBA season in five years. The NBA’s No. 6 defense enabled the team to begin the season 7-8. Slipping to 21st in defensive rating since, Detroit has gone 3-7. Even so, Detroit sits tied for ninth in the East, just a half-game behind the No. 8 Brooklyn Nets.
Guard Cade Cunningham is leading the Pistons in scoring (23.9 points per game) and assists (9.4 per game). Center Jalen Duren is pulling down a team-high 8.9 rebounds per game.
Detroit is expecting to be without small forward Ausar Thompson due to an adductor injury. He’s already missed 20 games this season. Rookie Bobi Klintman has been out all season with a calf contusion.
Reigning NBA champion Boston (19-5) is a stellar 17-3 SU against Eastern Conference opposition this season. The Celtics are the NBA’s No. 3 scoring offense, averaging 120.1 points per game.
Boston is 8-2 SU over the past 10 games, outscoring opponents 118.0-109.7 over that span. Swingman Jayson Tatum is leading the team in points (28.2 per game), rebounds (8.9 per game) and assists (5.7 per game). Guard Derrick White is shooting 45.0% and averaging 17.3 points per game.
Celtics center Al Horford is day-to-day with a toe injury. Forward Sam Hauser is also day-to-day due to an adductor injury.
The Pistons and Celtics have met twice this season. Boston won both games. However, the Celtics failed to cover either time as the 12.5-point chalk. Now they are giving Detroit another point in the spread.
Boston has covered just four times this season in 13 home games. Detroit has covered eight times in 14 road games. The Pistons are 2-1 ATS as a double-digit underdog. Go with Detroit to cover against Boston in the Thursday NBA picks.
