Where to stream Celtics vs Pistons game today.
Christian RomoDetroit Free Press
Oct. 20, 2026, 4:55 a.m. ET
The 2026-27 Detroit Pistons regular season is tipping off today.
The Pistons game vs. the Boston Celtics is a matchup of the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds from the Eastern Conference last season in the NBA season opener Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The Pistons vs. Celtics start time is 3 p.m. ET and the TV channel is NBC, with streaming info available on Peacock and Fubo.
The Pistons went 60-22 last season – their best record since going 64-18 in 2005-06 season – then rallied from 3-1 down to clip 8-seed Orlando for the franchise’s first playoff series win since 2008. They lost in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round.
The Celtics, who crushed expectations by going 56-26 despite Jayson Tatum missing most of the season, lost in seven games to Philadelphia in the first round. They then traded Jaylen Brown to the 76ers for Paul George, and signed Mitchell Robinson to bolster the center rotation.
The Pistons return all three of their core players, with newly extended center Jalen Duren joining newly extended forward Ausar Thompson and star point guard Cade Cunningham. They made a few roster changes, most notably seeing Tobias Harris, their second-leading scorer in the playoffs, sign a free-agent deal with the San Antonio Spurs and adding forward John Collins to take Harris’ place at power forward.
ESPN’s BPI predicts the Celtics and the Pistons to have the fourth and fifth-highest win totals in the NBA, respectively, with the Pistons projected for 49 wins – a drop-off from the previous season, but one that is expected in the tougher East this season.
Here’s what you need to know about Celtics vs. Pistons season opener.
Pistons start time vs Celtics
- Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20.
- Time: 3 p.m. ET.
- Location: Little Caesars Arena.
Pistons channel vs Celtics
The Pistons’ first game of the regular season will be televised on NBC, with streaming available on Peacock and Fubo. The Pistons this season will have their non-national TV games aired on local TV and streamed on DAZN.
Pistons vs Celtics streaming info
Pistons vs Celtics TV announcers
- Play-by-play: Terry Gannon.
- Color: Brian Scalabrine (Celtics bench), Robbie Hummel (Pistons bench).
NBA on NBC’s tripleheader kicks off with Pistons-Celtics, then comes Knicks-76ers (7 p.m.) and Spurs-Thunder (9:30 p.m.).
Pistons vs Celtics starting lineups projection
- Pistons: PG Cade Cunningham, SG Duncan Robinson, SF Ausar Thompson, PF John Collins, C Jalen Duren.
- Celtics: PG Derrick White, SG Jordan Walsh, SF Paul George, PF Jayson Tatum, C Mitchell Robinson.
Pistons injury report vs Celtics
- Pistons: TBA.
- Celtics: TBA.
Pistons schedule: Next three games
- Friday, Oct. 23: at Miami Heat, 8 p.m. ET (TV20).
- Sunday, Oct. 25: at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:30 p.m. ET (TV20).
- Tuesday, Oct. 27: at New York Knicks, 8 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock).
Find the Pistons’ entire regular-season schedule.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
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