The Boston Celtics have started their title defense with two back-to-back dominant wins. Following their opening-day victory against the Knicks, they swept the Washington Wizards 122-102. The two players who have impressed the most are Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Both are playing with a chip on their shoulder after the Paris Olympics controversy (Tatum wasn’t given enough time, while Brown wasn’t selected).

Currently, Tatum and Brown are fit and ready to compete against the Detroit Pistons tonight. They were in great form against the Wizards, with Brown scoring 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists, whereas Tatum scored 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. We can hope to see a similar performance tonight as well.

Poll of the day

Poll 1 of 5

Do you think Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will lead the Celtics to another championship this season?

Absolutely, they're unstoppable

Maybe, if they stay healthy

Unlikely, too many strong teams

No, they lack depth

Do you think LeBron and Savannah James made the right decision by initially transferring Bryce to different schools?

Yes, they were looking out for his best interests

No, they should have trusted Bryce's instincts

Maybe, but it ultimately worked out

Parents should let kids make their own choices

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How do you feel about Bryce James' decision to stick with Sierra Canyon despite the challenges?

It shows true loyalty and character

He should have sought better opportunities

It's a risky move that paid off

He was right to follow his heart

Do you think LeBron James deserves his current sixth place in the MVP straw poll?

Yes, his performance merits it

No, his recent slump should have dropped him lower

He should be higher, given his impact

MVP rankings are too media-driven to be accurate

With LeBron's recent struggles, should the Lakers consider a new team strategy?

Yes, focus on younger talent

No, LeBron is still the key player

Mix of both, balance experience and youth

Wait until LeBron fully recovers from injury

Want to dive deeper?

Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.

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Jayson Tatum also has his eye on the MVP title. In the post-game interview, he said, “Saying I want the MVP is important to me is not in a way like taking away from the success of our team.” Tatum has expressed that he wants to win the MVP, but that doesn’t come at the expense of his team’s success.

The defending champs are in fantastic form but, on the other hand, their opponents have started the season on the wrong foot with two defeats in two games. The Pistons will be looking to bounce back but it won’t be an easy task for them. Tatum and Brown are set to play in this contest but let’s find out which players will miss tonight’s game.

Boston Celtics injury report

Two players are on the injury list for the Celtics. First is Kristaps Porzingis who is out due to a foot injury but has gone through surgery successfully. He is on the path to recovery and is making good progress from the injury he sustained in June. At media day, Porzingis said that “the expectation is (to return) sometime in December,” adding he hopes that he can return sooner.

The second player on the injury list is Sam Hauser who did not play against the Wizards due to lower back pain. The 26-year-old is also out for the Pistons game tonight. “It’s a day-to-day thing,” said Boston’s HC Joe Mazzulla, per CLNS Media. “He’s getting better, working at it every day, and we’ll see how he progresses.” indicating that he can make a return soon.

Predicted lineup against the Pistons

The Celtics have used the same starting five in both games and since there are no injuries to the starters, they should line up similarly to the last game.

PG– Jrue Holiday, SG– Derrick White, SF– Jayson Tatum, PF– Jaylen Brown, C– Al Horford

They have been in great form and we expect to see a similar performance today against a Pistons side that is coming off back-to-back defeats. The Celtics should have the upper hand going into this game.