The Boston Celtics will be without one of their top stars, Jaylen Brown, in their upcoming game against the Detroit Pistons at TD Garden. Brown has been ruled out due to a low back contusion. While Jayson Tatum is available for the Pistons matchup, the absence of Brown could impact the Celtics’ performance. Brown left the Christmas Day matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers after a collision with LeBron James, although he did return to the game. This marks a departure for Brown, who had only missed one game this season despite battling through multiple injuries.
Considering the historically poor performance of the Detroit Pistons, the absence of Jaylen Brown might not be as detrimental for the Boston Celtics in their upcoming game on Thursday. The Pistons recently suffered their 27th consecutive loss, breaking the NBA record for the most losses in a row that was previously held by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2010-11 season. This record-breaking streak might provide the Celtics with a more favorable matchup, potentially mitigating the impact of not having one of their top stars, Jaylen Brown, on the court.
Despite the Detroit Pistons’ historical struggles, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is likely to ensure that his team is well-prepared for the matchup. The players may be motivated to avoid being the team that the Pistons defeat to end their record-breaking losing streak. Despite the Pistons’ difficulties, the Celtics are heavily favored, being 17-point favorites according to NESN Bets consensus data. This substantial margin makes the Celtics the most favored NBA team this season in a single game.