The Detroit Pistons have the honor of kicking off the 2026-27 NBA season with a special late afternoon game against the Boston Celtics. The game will tip at around 3 p.m. ET (ish) and will be broadcast on national TV on NBC while also being available on Peacock and Fubo.
This is a matchup between the first seed (Pistons) and second seed (Celtics) from last season, though you would be forgiven if you thought the only team that seemed to matter were the Celtics. Boston made major changes in the offseason,
sending away Jaylen Brown and taking back veteran Paul George while also addressing a huge issue down low by signing away Mitchell Robinson from the New York Knicks.
The Pistons did … less than that. They swapped out one unheralded but important starter (Tobias Harris), and they hope they signed one to take his place (John Collins). Otherwise the starting lineup remains the same — with three young players on three long-term deals that form the core of the Pistons for years to come — led by star Cade Cunningham and joined by Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson.
Game Vitals
When: 3 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: TV: NBC | Streaming: Peacock
Odds: Pistons +1.5
Analysis
With all NBA eyes fixed on the Pistons, I thought that it really upped the pressure on providing some trenchant basketball analysis. Fans are thirsty for the game and really want to understand the nuances of teams that they might not watch on a nightly basis. The game is also on NBC! It’s also an opportunity to show Pistons skeptics that there are significant reasons to believe in the potential of this club. With all that is riding on this, I felt like I could do no better than to turn to the immortal words of a Detroit native and Pistons fan Tim Robinson …
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: WHOO!!
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: YEAH!!
[high-five]
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: DO IT!!
[high-five]
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: WHOO!!
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: YEAH!!
[high-five]
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: WHOO!!
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: YEAH!!
[high-five]
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: WHOO!!
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: YEAH!!
[high-five]
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: WHOO!!
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: YEAH!!
[high-five]
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: WHOO!!
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
John Tesh: YEAH!!
[high-five]
Dave Tesh:
“Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba basketball!
Gimme gimme, gimme the ball!
Because I’m gonna… DUNK IT!!”
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (0-0)
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Jalen Duren
Boston Celtics (0-0)
Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Jordan Walsh, Mitchell Robinson
Question of the Game
Who makes more 3-pointers this season — Ausar Thompson or Jalen Duren?
