Detroit Pistons Will Face Boston Celtics on NBA Opening Night

The Pistons are set to host the Celtics on NBA Opening Night at Little Caesars Arena.

Feb 26, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles on Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Detroit Pistons will open the 2026-27 NBA season against the Boston Celtics, per Shams Charania, giving the franchise some major spotlight to begin the new campaign. 

Detroit will host Boston at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday, October 20 at 3:00 p.m. ET, with the matchup acting as the first of a loaded three-game opening-night slate.

The other two games will see the Philadelphia 76ers visit the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder. All of the games on this slate will be available to watch nationally on NBC and Peacock.

For Detroit, this matchup represents a reward after a fantastic 60-win campaign last regular season under head coach JB Bickerstaff. 

Opening night will be an immediate test for the Pistons

The Celtics finished directly behind the Pistons in the Eastern Conference last season, making this an exciting meeting between two of the conference’s best teams. 

Boston, like its hosts, will also look different when they suit up at Little Caesars Arena. 

The Celtics made one of the biggest moves of the offseason by trading All-NBA second-team wing Jaylen Brown to the 76ers for Paul George and draft compensation. Boston also acquired Mitchell Robinson in free agency, giving the team a new-look center rotation heading into the new campaign. 

Pistons fans will likely get their first look at new additions John Collins and Isaiah Joe, with both players set to make their Detroit debuts on a big night for Pistons basketball.  

Opening against Boston gives Detroit an early opportunity to see how its offseason work compares with one of the biggest contenders out in the East. Detroit has had a quieter offseason, so this first game will give them an idea of where they stack in a new-look Eastern Conference.

Cade Cunningham gets the spotlight to open NBA season

Tuesday morning's announcement also provides Cade Cunningham with an immediate opportunity to showcase his talents once again on a national stage. 

Cunningham is coming off an All-NBA First Team campaign that established himself as one of the association's best players. Now, he will get the opportunity to lead Detroit into the new season on one of the NBA’s biggest stages. 

The Pistons will hope to have Jalen Duren tied up long-term before this match, with his contract extension continuing to drag on as we near preseason.

The NBA has given Detroit an opportunity to make a statement on its home floor, providing some much-needed excitement in what has been a very polarizing offseason.