Monday night in Detroit (30-10) isn’t just another regular season stop.

It’s a chance for the Celtics (26-15) to even their season series with the Pistons at 2-2. And, more importantly, it’s a test for themselves against their most consistent Eastern Conference rival.

Through three games, there’s been no fluke, no randomness, and no stylistic mismatch - each contest has been a true test, with both teams exposing weaknesses, adjusting, and trading punches. This steady back-and-forth reveals just how evenly matched they are.

If the Eastern Conference Finals run through Boston and Detroit, no one will be surprised.

Tonight won’t decide that, but it will add another data point to growing evidence these teams are on a collision course.

Before diving into those details, here are the three biggest takeaways from the first three chapters of Celtics-Pistons in 2025-26:

Across all three meetings, the Pistons have dictated terms with size, strength, and effort, especially on the glass.

In Game 1, that edge was overwhelming. Jalen Duren’s 24 points and 17 rebounds weren’t just numbers; they set the tone. Detroit finished with 18 offensive rebounds and generated 30 second-chance points. They consistently punished Boston for failing to close possessions. The Celtics led by 17 in the first half of that game but lost control because they couldn’t finish defensive stands.

Game 2 showed improvement, not resolution.

Even in Boston’s best win, to that point, of the season - a gritty 117-114 escape at TD Garden - Detroit grabbed 14 offensive rebounds through three quarters. The Celtics survived by matching aggression just enough and hitting timely shots late. Still, the rebounding gap remained a pressure point.

Game 3 reemphasized the issue.

12 more Detroit offensive rebounds created 16 second-chance points, and Boston wore down as the game went on.

The theme is clear.

When Boston controls the glass, they win. When they don't, everything else gets harder - shot quality, transition defense, late-game execution.

For Detroit, rebounding is the tax Boston pays every time they share the floor.

If there’s one reason the Celtics aren’t staring at a 0-3 hole in this matchup, it’s Jaylen Brown.

He’s delivered in all three games:

- 41 in the opener

- 33 and 10 rebounds in the Thanksgiving Eve win

- 34 points, 8 boards, and 7 assists in the last loss

What stands out isn’t just the scoring. It’s adaptability.

When Boston’s offense stalls, Brown shifts gears, attacking mismatches inside, absorbing contact, and creating offense without needing the system to click.

In Game 2, he shook off a brutal 1 for 8 start and became Boston’s most reliable late option.

In Game 3, he shouldered the scoring load as the Celtics went ice cold from deep.

Even in Game 1, when the Celtics unraveled late, Brown alone kept them within striking distance.

Against a Detroit defense that thrives on physicality and discipline, Brown has been Boston’s most resilient answer. That matters - not just for tonight, but for what a seven-game series would demand.

None of the three matchups suggest a meaningful talent disparity.

Each result has come down to execution, often in narrow, late-game margins.

Detroit took Game 1 by dominating possessions and getting to the line. Boston took Game 2, surviving Cade Cunningham’s 40-point night, defending just enough late, and benefiting from one of the season’s most debated reviews.

Game 3 swung back to Detroit as Boston’s shooting faltered and the Pistons methodically closed it out.

Cunningham has looked like a centerpiece in each meeting. Derrick White has had swings that altered outcomes. Role players like Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and even lineup gambles at center have swung momentum in short bursts.

When these teams meet, mistakes are magnified. Cold stretches don’t get forgiven. Missed box-outs become four-point swings. One bad review, one empty possession, one lost rebound can tilt the night.

That’s playoff basketball.

Tonight gives Boston a chance to split the season series and recalibrate issues. More importantly, it is an opportunity to prove they can solve the problems Detroit has presented. While it won’t answer every question, it will sharpen the picture.

If this is a preview of May, the stakes are clear:

The road to the Finals could be defined by what happens next.

Tonight isn’t just another tiebreaker, it's a signal that the rivalry is real, and the time to pay attention is now.

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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.