Follow along with the best of a five-game night in the NBA, headlined by Cade Cunningham and Jaylen Brown facing off in Pistons-Celtics.

The Boston Celtics have punched above their weight this season, considering that they are missing their biggest star, Jayson Tatum, who has been out with an torn Achilles injury since last season.

The team has yet to apply for a Disabled Player Exception as a "conscious decision for many reasons," said the president of basketball operations.

The Boston Celtics are short on reliable big men. Luka Garza has failed to convince Joe Mazzulla that he can be a dependable member of the rotation. His limited defense has likely played a role in his falling out of favor with Mazzulla.

The Celtics morphed from world-beaters when they were winning 10 of their last 12 games to a mediocre ball club in their last two contests.

Tipoff from TD Garden in Boston is at 7 p.m. ET. Boston is a 1.5-point favorite at home, while the over/under is 229.5 in the latest Celtics vs. Pistons odds. Before making any Celtics vs. Pistons picks, check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown had a moment of reflection when it came to talking about the business side of the NBA.

The Detroit Pistons (21-5) travel to American Airlines Center to face the Dallas Mavericks (10-17) on Thursday night in NBA action.

On a recent stream, Celtics star Jaylen Brown confidently claims Warriors star Stephen Curry wouldn’t beat him 1-on-1.