Detroit vs Boston

[Raji]

Pistons at Celtics
Odds: Celtics -4 1/2, 183

Recent meetings

This is the season’s rubber match between the Celtics and Pistons, who have split the first two games. Detroit beat the Celtics in Boston in December by a bucket as 8-point underdogs and Boston returned the favor a few weeks later with a 92-85 win at the Palace at Auburn Hills as a 2-point underdog.

Detroit’s appetizer

Before the main course, Detroit hosts the lowly Seattle Super Sonics Tuesday night at the Palace as huge 15-point favorites. The Pistons are 9-4-1 against the spread in the second game of back-to-backs this year.

Billups is back

Chauncey Billups is back with the Pistons after missing Saturday’s 30-point pounding of the Clippers to deal with a personal matter. No further details about his absence were released by the team.

Home-court advantage

The Pistons can pull within three games of the Celtics and home-court advantage in the playoffs with a win Tuesday, not that they’d say it makes much difference.

Since 2003, the Pistons have played in five Eastern Conference finals and two NBA Finals. In those seven series, they are 0-3 when they have home-court advantage and 3-1 when they don't.

"We're close," Chauncey Billups told reporters, when asked about catching Boston. "But I don't really think about it. One thing we learned around here from the last couple of postseasons is that the only thing that matters is that we're playing the right ball at the right time."

Sam I am

No official word yet from the Celtics, but Sam Cassell is expected to sign with Boston for the remainder of the season.

“Obviously I’m thrilled to get Sam,” coach Doc Rivers told the Boston Herald. “He’s coming in with the right frame of mind. He understands that he’s just coming in to fit in and be another piece of the puzzle that we’re trying to put together to do something special.”

Don’t expect Cassell to be in the mix against Detroit, or to steal Rajon Rondo’s starting point guard job. Cassell received a buyout from the Clippers last week and cleared waivers yesterday, paving the way for his move to Beantown.

Home sweet home

Detroit plays 14 of its last 23 games in front of its home crowd at the Palace at Auburn Hills, where the Pistons have lost just five times (17-10 ATS) all year.

"We're on the other side of the hill now, we're on our way down," captain Chauncey Billups told Free Press Sports. "So we've just got to take care of business the best way we can. The games that we should win, we've just got to take care of business and win them, and the other games we've just got to try our best to win. I'm happy where we're at, I'm happy with what the future hopefully holds for this team, and it feels good to be sitting where we're at right now."

Big Ticket a big problem for bettors?

The Celtics may be happy Kevin Garnett’s back, but Boston bettors aren’t thrilled. The Celtics have won five straight after dropping the first two games KG played after recovering from an abdominal strain, but are just 2-5 against the spread over that stretch.

However, Garnett played his best game since returning on Sunday in a win over the Hawks, posting 20 points and 16 rebounds in just over 35 minutes.

“He’s all the way back,” Paul Pierce told reporters following the game. “Didn’t you all watch the game tonight? When he’s going to the basket inside-outside and dominating the rebounds, that’s the Kevin Garnett I like to see.”

“His rhythm is coming back on the post,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers added. “He’s starting to drive the ball more, and that’s really nice to see. We need it.”

D-up

Everybody knows all about Detroit is defense, but the Celtics can play a bit of ‘D’ too.

Detroit owns the league’s best scoring defense allowing just 90.2 points per game, while Boston allows 90.6 points a night.

Tonight's refs

Dick Bavetta, Derrick Collins, and Mark Lindsay will take care of tonight's game.

Raji