Final: Celtics 128, Pistons 122 (OT) - Porzingis, White save Celtics

BOSTON CELTICS vs DETROIT PISTONS

7:30 p.m. - NBC Sports Boston/NBA TV

Line: Boston -16.5

INJURIES

Boston: Jaylen Brown (OUT, low back contusion)

Detroit: Isaiah Stewart (OUT, toe), Monte Morris (OUT, quad), Killian Hayes (PROBABLE, illness), Ausar Thompson (PROBABLE, illness)

NOTES

- Detroit has lost 27 games in a row, the most in a single season. A loss to Boston would tie them with the longest overall losing streak, 28, which Philadelphia did over two seasons (2014-15, 2015-16). 

- Boston is 14-0 at home, the only undefeated team at home. 

- Detroit is is 1-14 on the road

- Derrick White owns the most blocks by a guard over a 5-game span in NBA history with 14 blocks (12/17-12/25/23) and joins Dwyane Wade as the only two guards to register multiple 5-game spans with 13+ blocks.

- In a player's first 26 games of a season (in the 3-point era), only three players have recorded at least 125 assists, 100 rebounds, 30 blocks, and 30 steals and shot at least 40.0 percent from three and an 80.0 percent free throw percentage: White, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan.

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1: Focus: Yes, I’m a tiny bit nervous about this game for Boston. The first game home after a west coast swing is always a bit dicey. The Pistons have endured some embarrassment having lost 27 in a row, especially after losing a game they could have won. They have played Boston well in the past, so there might be a bit of confidence coming into Boston. 

The Pistons are not good, but they're not a pushover. They will shoot themselves in the foot, but not before firing some shots Boston’s way. If the Celtics play the way they normally play, this will be an easy win. If they play with their food, we’ll be sweating the fourth quarter. 

2: Containing Cade Cunningham: He’s legit, and he almost won Detroit the game against Brooklyn Tuesday night. He’s capable of putting up a bunch of points to carry the offense, and if he can get some help from someone like Bojan Bogdanovic or another shooter, maybe Detroit will have a chance. Limit him, though, and it won’t matter. 

3. Getting Jayson Tatum right: I hope Tatum doesn't take it easy in this game. This can be a good chance to get Tatum some reps in spots where he needs work. It’s a sort of glorified live-action practice opportunity that the Celtics don’t usually get. 

Get him into the post working on that fadeway against live defense and spam it to get a better feel for that shot. Take a play or two out of the last-second playbook and run it three or four times in the second quarter to get some good reps on film. Take advantage of this opportunity to use the Pistons as a tackling dummy to keep the team’s focus on execution while also sharpening some tools.

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.