Taurean Prince Misses Pistons Season Opener Against Celtics

Detroit will begin its 2026-27 NBA campaign without veteran forward Taurean Prince, who is unavailable for the season opener against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, October 20. According to Sports Yahoo, the 32-year-old will miss the matchup for personal reasons after joining the Pistons through an offseason trade.

Prince's absence removes a veteran presence from Detroit's lineup as the team prepares for its first regular-season game. Although his preseason playing time was limited, the 11th-year NBA veteran has earned recognition within the organization for his leadership and guidance of younger teammates.

During three preseason appearances, Prince averaged just over nine minutes per game, recording two points and 0.7 rebounds and steals, according to Sports Yahoo. His limited preseason workload provides little indication of an expanded role at the start of the regular season.

Detroit has also experienced veteran departures involving Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart during the offseason. Prince has been expected to help address that experience gap through his knowledge of the league and mentorship of younger players.

Across 608 regular-season games in his NBA career, Prince has averaged 9.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists, according to Sports Yahoo. When he returns, he is expected to contribute from the bench, primarily through defense and floor spacing.

His three-point shooting is another part of his expected contribution, with his career mark from beyond the arc at a personal high, according to the report. However, the source did not provide a specific percentage for that career-best figure.

Detroit will have two-way guard Elijah Harkless available against Boston, bringing the number of available players to 15. Fellow two-way players Isaac Jones and Ugonna Onyenso will not be available for the opener, Sports Yahoo reported.

Boston also has one player listed as unavailable. Celtics guard Devin Carter will miss the game because of an illness, making him the only Boston player on the injury report cited by Sports Yahoo.