The Boston Celtics are rolling into Monday night’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons with a full-strength starting lineup - and that’s big news for a team that’s quietly been building momentum in the East.
There was a brief moment of uncertainty earlier in the day when Payton Pritchard appeared on the injury report following morning shootaround. But any concern was short-lived.
After putting in some pregame work on the TD Garden parquet, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year was cleared to play. And if you’ve been watching closely, you know Pritchard’s been more than just a spark off the bench - he’s been surgical around the rim, converting nearly 70% of his shots within five feet.
That kind of efficiency from a guard his size isn’t just impressive - it’s elite.
Pritchard’s availability gives Boston a boost in a game that has the potential to be another tightly contested battle between two franchises with plenty of history. The last time these teams met, it was a throwback thriller.
Boston edged out Detroit 117-114 in a game that felt like it could’ve been plucked from the pages of their storied 1980s rivalry. And while that game was a nail-biter, it also served as a coming-out party for rookie center Amari Williams.
With Neemias Queta sidelined, Williams was thrown into the fire - and he didn’t just survive, he made an impact. He logged more minutes than any of the Celtics’ traditional bigs and held his ground against the Pistons’ rising star Jalen Duren. That performance earned praise from teammates, including Jaylen Brown, who didn’t hold back.
“That was impressive from Amari, I’m not gonna lie,” Brown said after the win. “He hasn’t been with us.
A lot of pressure, high-profile game. To come in and make an impact - credit to him.
He did well for us. Amari has talent.
He can pass the ball. He’s a big guy.
He knows the game. That was a big-time performance from him.”
Now, Williams is back with the big club as the Celtics prepare for the rematch, and with Queta active this time around, Boston suddenly has options at the five. That depth could come in handy against a Pistons frontcourt that features both Duren and the physical Isaiah Stewart.
But perhaps the most important factor heading into this one? Continuity.
The Celtics have found something with their current starting five - Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jordan Walsh, and Neemias Queta - and the numbers back it up. That unit has gone 10-3 in 13 games together, helping Boston climb to third in the Eastern Conference standings.
They’ve also racked up nine wins against teams at or above .500 - tied for the most in the league, alongside none other than the Pistons.
That’s not just a reflection of talent - it’s about cohesion. Boston’s starters are clicking on both ends of the floor.
Pritchard and White bring perimeter pressure and playmaking, Brown is doing Brown things - scoring, defending, leading - and Walsh continues to grow into his role with poise beyond his years. Add in Queta’s physical presence inside, and it’s a group that’s quietly becoming one of the most balanced in the East.
Monday night’s game might not carry the playoff stakes of those classic Celtics-Pistons showdowns from decades past, but don’t be fooled - this one matters. Two teams at the top of their game, tied in a key statistical category, with young talent stepping up and veterans leading the way. That’s a recipe for another TD Garden showdown worth watching.