Celtics at Pistons odds, picks and predictions

Jan. 19, 2026, 1:38 p.m. ET

The Boston Celtics (26-15) face the Detroit Pistons (30-10) in primetime Monday. Tip-off from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, is set for 8 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Celtics vs. Pistons odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Detroit leads 2-1

Boston dominated the Atlanta Hawks 132-106 on Saturday, covering as a 3.5-point road favorite as the Over (230.5) cashed. Jaylen Brown put up 41 points and Sam Hauser added 30 as the duo carried the Celtics to the win. Boston held Atlanta to an abysmal 38-of-102 (37%) shooting day from the field, allowing the Celtics to grab 55 boards.

Detroit routed the Indiana Pacers 121-78 Saturday to cover as a 15.5-point home favorite as the Under (222.5) hit. Cade Cunningham scored 16 points in 21 minutes to lead the Pistons, finishing as 1 of 5 Pistons to score in double figures. The Pistons held the Pacers to 35% shooting from the field and 23% shooting from deep while also forcing 25 turnovers.

The Pistons beat the Celtics 112-105 on Dec. 15 in the most chapter of this series, covering as 1.5-point road underdogs with the Under (231.5) hitting. Detroit is 2-1 ATS against Boston this season and the Under is 2-1 — hitting in each of the last 2 contests. Both Brown has put up at least 30 points in all 3 matchups between the teams this season, while Cunningham has reached 30 in 2 of the games.

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Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 1:25 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Celtics +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Pistons -155 (bet $155 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Celtics +3.5 (-118) | Pistons -3.5 (-102)Over/Under (O/U): 224.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Celtics at Pistons key injuries

Celtics

F Chris Boucher (back) probableF Josh Minott (ankle) outG Payton Pritchard (ankle) availableF Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out

Pistons

F Ronald Holland II (illness) questionable

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

Celtics at Pistons picks and predictionsPrediction

Pistons 109, Celtics 106

LEAN PISTONS (-150)

Detroit is the more complete team with the better defense, and that defense plus rebounding will be the key to Detroit winning here. Boston doesn’t have the bigs that can compete down low with Detroit, especially on the glass, so look for the Pistons to be able to close out possessions more consistently than the Celtics.

Brown and Cunningham should have big nights but expect scoring to be a bit easier for Cunningham as the Celtics have fewer bodies to throw at him, especially with Josh Minott out.

This is a lean because, while Boston is 7-3 in its last 10 matchups against Detroit and 7-3 in its last 10 overall, the Pistons are 6-4 in that span, putting the teams on even footing in terms of momentum lately.

PASS.

I lean toward the Celtics to cover here as +3.5 (-118) underdogs, but with Detroit being the healthier team and sitting at 6-4 ATS in the last 10 matchups between these squads, Boston is not worth backing here. Pass and bet on the moneyline and/or total instead.

BET UNDER 224.5 (-110).

The Under has hit in 9 straight games for the Pistons and is 23-17 for Detroit on the season. For Boston, the Under is 7-3 in its last 10 outings and 23-18 this season. The Under has also hit in 4 of the last 5 matchups between these squads.

Look for most scoring to come from the stars on both sides, but the Under will still hit as the role players will struggle to contribute offensively.

With both squads having top-3 scoring defenses, the Under is nearly a lock here.

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Celtics at Pistons odds, picks and predictions

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