The Celtics’ first night of the 2026-27 season comes with a trimmed injury report, while Detroit is bringing a little more uncertainty into the opener at Little Caesars Arena.
Boston will be without backup guard Devin Carter, who is out because of an illness. Outside of that absence, the Celtics appear set to roll out their projected starters in the season debut, with Derrick White and new addition Paul George likely to open in the backcourt. Jayson Tatum and Jordan Walsh are expected on the wings, and Mitchell Robinson is projected to start at center.
The Pistons have more moving parts on their report. Taurean Prince is listed as questionable because of personal reasons, and Elijah Harkless is also questionable while attached to a two-way G League contract. Detroit will be missing two other two-way players as well, with Isaac Jones and Ugonna Onyenso both ruled out.
If the expected lineup holds, Detroit would start Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson at guard, John Collins and Ausar Thompson at forward, and Jalen Duren in the middle.
It sets up a first night that should feature plenty of familiar names, even if the minutes are expected to be managed carefully with the season just getting underway. A major spotlight falls on PG13, who is set to make his first official appearance for Boston after arriving from the Philadelphia 76ers in the trade that sent Jaylen Brown and draft capital the other way.
Devin Carter - Out (Illness)
Elijah Harkless - Questionable (G League - Two-Way)
Isaac Jones - Out (G League - Two-Way)
Ugonna Onyenso - Out (G League - Two-Way)
Taurean Prince - Questionable (Personal Reasons)
In Other News...
Pistons Opener Hinted At A Change Fans Have Wanted For Years
The Pistons entered the 2026 offseason determined to modernize an offense that too often settled for too few threes, and their regular-season opener against the Celtics offered the clearest sign yet that the message may have landed. Detroit launched 40 three-pointers in a 121-113 win, a sharp jump from last seasons 30.8 per game, and the shot profile alone looked different enough to catch the eye even before the comeback from a 22-point hole.
Duncan Robinson, Javonte Green, Isaiah Joe and Kevin Huerter all factored into the spread-the-floor approach, giving Detroit the kind of perimeter volume fans have wanted to see for years. One game does not make a season, of course, but after spending the offseason talking about the need to improve from deep, the Pistons at least gave themselves a template worth watching closely as the schedule moves on. [Read more 🡒]
John Collins Already Has The Pistons Facing A Tough Defensive Question
John Collins first night in a Pistons uniform offered an early glimpse of both the upside and the problems Detroit will have to sort through. He gave the team some useful minutes with a block and a few offensive rebounds, the kind of activity that can matter in a game where every possession counts. But the bigger takeaway came on the other end, where Collins had a rough time holding up defensively in his new setting.
Detroit tried to work around it by shifting Collins to center, hoping the matchup would settle in, but the adjustment did not really solve the issue. Paul George found room to score against him, and the problem only looked more complicated when bigger opponents came into play, including Mitchell Robinson. For a Pistons group trying to piece together lineups early, Collins fit may end up being defined less by what he can add and more by how they hide what he gives up. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Just Turned Bostons Big Debut Into A Celtics Problem
Bostons season opener quickly turned into a reminder that early NBA games can still say plenty about where a team is headed. The Celtics built a 22-point lead against Detroit, only to let it slip away in a loss that had Jayson Tatum finishing with 13 points on rough shooting while Paul George carried the offensive load with 38 points and also made his presence felt on the defensive end.
Social media did what it always does after a collapse like that, with fans split between frustration at the coaching and player execution and calls to remember how long the season is. From Detroits perspective, it was the kind of result that can travel well beyond one night, because handing Boston an opener like that immediately changes the tone around the Celtics and gives the Pistons an early jolt of attention. [Read more 🡒]