Pistons vs. Celtics NBA expert prediction and odds for Monday, March 18 (Trust Boston at home)

Both the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons are playing the second night of a back-to-back on Monday, as Boston looks to continue to rack up wins in the Eastern Conference. 

Detroit played Miami for the second time in as many games on Sunday, and the team ended up losing on a buzzer beater from Bam Adebayo. 

Brutal. 

Boston, on the other hand, sat Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White against the lowly Washington Wizards. The East’s top team picked up an easy win on Sunday, with Sam Hauser lighting things up from 3 before going down with an injury. 

Do the Celtics continue to rest players in these scenarios – especially against one of the worst teams in the league – with the massive cushion they have in the East?

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Here’s a look at the odds (which could tell us just that) and my best bet for Monday’s matchup: 

Pistons vs. Celtics odds, spread and total

Pistons vs. Celtics how to watch

• Date: Monday, March 18
• Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
• Venue: TD Garden
• How to watch (TV): NBC Sports Boston, Bally Sports Detroit
• Pistons record: 12-55
• Celtics record: 53-14

Pistons vs. Celtics injury reports

Pistons injury report

• Not submitted yet

Celtics injury report

• Not submitted yet

Pistons vs. Celtics key players to watch

Detroit Pistons

Jalen Duren: Porzingis has missed several games in a row for Boston, and if he sits on Monday night, the Pistons could get a big game from center Jalen Duren. The second-year big is averaging a double-double on the season, and Duren had 15 points and 14 boards in his last meeting with Boston. 

Boston Celtics

Jaylen Brown: After sitting out on Sunday, I’d expect Jaylen Brown to play on Monday night. There’s a chance he gets to be the No. 1 option if the C’s rest Tatum, and Brown has shown recently that he can carry this offense. In his last four games, Brown has scored 37, 27, 27 and 41 points. 

Pistons vs. Celtics prediction and pick

Boston is favored by 15 points in this game – a massive number – but I have to bet the Celtics unless the team rules out every starter when it releases its injury report.

The C’s have beat up on inferior competition all season long – especially as a home favorite. In that spot, the C’s are 19-14 against the spread, winning those games by an average margin of 15.4 points per game. 

Boston did need overtime to beat the Pistons in its first matchup this season, but I think this C’s team is playing a lot freer as of late with the No. 1 seed in the East likely already in hand. 

The team has won four straight games by 15 or more points, including a 22-point win against the Portland Trail Blazers and last night’s 26-point win over Washington. Both of those games were on the road. 

With Boston back at home tonight, I think it handles business against a Detroit team that has just 12 wins all season.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.