Final: Celtics 117, Pistons 114 - White's monster half snaps Pistons streak

BOSTON CELTICS (9-8) vs DETROIT PISTONS (15-2)

Regular season game 18, Emirates Cup Group B Game 4

TD Garden, 5 p.m. - ESPN

SCHEDULE ADVANTAGE: Boston. This is the fourth game of a road trip for Detroit. Boston has been home for three games and is coming off two days off. Detroit has won 13 in a row.

INJURIES

Boston: Jayson Tatum (OUT-Achilles), Neemias Queta (OUT-ankle)

Detroit: Marcus Sasser (OUT-hip), Bobi Klintman (OUT-ankle)

OFFICIALS

Tony Brothers (#25)    Mitchell Ervin (#27)    Jenna Schroeder (#20)

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Keeping Jalen Duren off the boards: He had eight offensive rebounds against the Celtics in Detroit’s win exactly one month ago. Without Queta, the Celtics are especially shorthanded on the frontline, so someone is going to have to find away to keep Duren from crushing the Celtics on second chances. He alone might be enough to win the game for Detroit. 

2. Small ball?: I’m not sure how the Celtics handle their size disadvantage tonight. I think one way to do it is lean into it and spend a lot of time going small. No, they won’t be able to match up against the Pistons, but if they play fast enough, it might be the Pistons who have to adjust. I say try going super small, pester their bigs when they put the ball on the floor, and run hard to get them tired. Don’t try to play their game. It might not be pretty, but it might be their best chance. 

3. Shooting: This would be a great night to shoot 45% from 3 on heavy volume. I honestly don’t want to hear anything about them jacking 3s in this game. That's probably going to be their best chance to win, so hoist 60 of them and hope you get hot. Save the stuff at the rim for running off steals. 

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.