Brief

Celtics open season without Jaylen Brown as Tatum leads new era

The Celtics face the Pistons in the season opener after moving on from the Brown‑Tatum duo.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:52:06 GMT

Boston opened its 2026‑27 NBA campaign on Oct. 20 against the Detroit Pistons, playing without former teammate Jaylen Brown, who was traded to Philadelphia in July.

Bleacher Report notes that Jayson Tatum is now the Celtics' primary star, with Paul George expected to fill the void left by Brown. The outlet adds that the Celtics have shifted to a "one star and a great supporting cast" model, a strategy that helped them win 50 games last season.

According to the live‑blog, the Pistons entered the game after extending Ausar Thompson to a five‑year, $155 million deal, while the Celtics rely on Tatum’s return to form after his injury‑limited season.

Key facts

• The Celtics opened the 2026‑27 season against the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 20. (bleacherreport.com)
• Jaylen Brown was traded to Philadelphia in July, leaving Jayson Tatum as Boston's sole star. (bleacherreport.com)
• Paul George joined the Celtics to replace Brown's production. (bleacherreport.com)
• The Pistons recently signed Ausar Thompson to a five‑year, $155 million extension. (bleacherreport.com)

Sources

• [1] bleacherreport.com — originally reported as “Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons Live NBA Updates, Scores and Highlights”