At last, Bostonians again have a reason (other than the Bruins) to drink themselves to sleep.

It happened on an otherwise placid Wednesday evening. The 18-7 Pistons were in town, one of just three legitimate teams in the East. The final result was an 87-85 win for Detroit, dropping Boston to a paltry 20-3 and breaking their 12-game home unbeaten streak this season.

For what it’s worth, the last time the Celtics started 20-2 (best ever in franchise history) they won the NBA title.

Your TOT Tri-Plex Towers and Convention Center Plaza Lock of the Night (record 9-6-1): The Nets have lost 6-of-7 and are a 5 point dog at Miami. This is a huge matchup problem for Jersey, and they’re playing like Rutgers. Take Miami to cover that 5.

And now … Bob Cousy does his best John Stockton impression

With eight straight wins, the NBA’s youngest team is spoiling GM Kevin Pritchard’s youth movement plans. When No. 1 pick Greg Oden was lost to the Blazers during the preseason, the team looked like a lock for another 20-30 win season.

After starting 5-12, that ballpark estimate appeared to be an accurate prognostication. Eight straight wins have Portland sitting at 13-12 — playing themselves right out of the Draft Lottery. Oh well. Better luck next year.

The TipOff Talk Tri-Plex Towers and Convention Center Plaza Lock of the Night (record 8-6-1): Charlotte part owner Michael Jordan practiced with the Bobcats on Tuesday. The Jazz have lost 7-of-8 and are a 5-point favorite on the road. Take the inspired Bobcats to cover that 5.

And now … drunk in Portland

Your TipOff Talk Towers and Convention Center Plaza Lock of the night (record 7-6-1) Jose Calderon is making the most of TJ Ford’s injury in Toronto. With the Spaniard running the point, Toronto has won 4-of-5 and is a 1-point dog tonight in D.C. Take Toronto to win again.

And now … Fashion Tips — Straight Eye from that Franchise Guy (wait for it at the 1:18 mark)

X-Rays were negative. So was Cleveland coach Mike Brown: “Detroit just brought more energy than we did on both ends of the floor.”

Brown says LeBron is day-to-day. But, hey DP and KO — aren’t we all? Through 16 games, LJ is averaging 30.7 points, 8.1 assists, 1.9 steals, 1.5 blocks, 7.6 rebounds and 15,528 cups of light beer sold per game.

And now … owie

Clarifying his Knicks are “a joke” comments: I am disappointed in the Knicks. They’re a joke because they should be so much better than their record indicates.

They have the talent, the big men and look a lot more like a Western Conference team … where they slow the game down.

On Phoenix not getting past San Antonio: They hit a wall spurs in a 7-game series. The Spurs are built for the playoffs. They’re built for a 7-game series. The logjam the Suns reach every year is the inability to score in the halfcourt against a team like the Spurs. They get the transition baskets in the regular season, but will have to score with the Spurs in the halfcourt if they’re ever going to advance to the Finals.

Miller on the Knicks: Right now, they are a league-wide joke. It’s sad because they are an historic and iconic franchise. But people think they are late night comedy jokes.

The TipOff Talk Towers and Convention Center Plaza Lock of the Night 6-6-1: Knicks are a 12-point dog at Boston. Celtics cover.

And now … six points in eight seconds to tie

The TipOff Talk Towers and Convention Center Plaza Lock of the Night(current record 6-5-1): Golden State at Sacramento is currently even on the Vegas Big Board. Take the red hot Kings to win going away.

And Now … something Suns related (she loves sausage and eggs :50)

After dumping Donny Darko “Me, Me, Me” Milicic, the Magic have been switched on, Baby!

Granted, Darko is the greatest thing to come out of Yugoslavia since Pork Schnitzel. But even as the central cog in the Memphis Grizzlies’ machine, Milicic is averaging 10 points and 7.6 rebounds in 29 minutes.

Further, Milicic’s free-throw percentage is 48.3-percent, resurrecting the term “Hack a Slav”. Moreover, he’s 22, he’s injured and he sleeps with a male goat.

Following a 1/2-point cover between Duke and Princeton, the TipOff Talk Towers and Convention Center Plaza Lock of the Night staff has some mojo risin’ at 5-5-1. Gonna keep on risin - Mojo risin’ … Denver is clicking, stomping out three straight home wins of 17 points or better. Chicago is an 8-point underdog and will lose by at least 25. Take Denver to cover that 8.

And now … fetal alcohol syndrome at work (bega-bega-bega bout an hour ago)

In a mounting he-said, she-said ballyhoo we only find in the township of New York, unconfirmed reports have Isiah Thomas calling Stephon Marbury’s bluff — telling the overpaid, over-hyped, over-the-hill point guard to get the hell out. Some 28 hours later, following what must have been a legendary Maui Wowie binge, the 30-year-old Georgia Tech star worked his panties out of his nether regions and got back to work.

This tete-a-tete falls firmly in TOT’s “Who Gives a Flying Ford Fairlane” file, as Isiah, New York, Rudy G and Stephon have all jumped the shark. Big payroll, big market, big losses, big Flying Ford Fairlane file.

In the TipOff Talk Tri-Plex Towers and Convention Center Plaza Lock of the Night file, however (current record 4-5-1), we hit the NCAA hardwood where Princeton is a 22 1/2 point dog at Duke. Now, 22 1/2 is a ton of points against a slowdown 2-0 Princeton Tigers team — whether you are 1991 Loyola Marymount or the 1987 Denver Nuggets. Take Princeton to cover that nonsense by at least 5.

And now … how not to score (or cover by 22 1/2)

Boston slips to 8-1 and may now have difficulty hitting that 80-win window. The Magic are no slouches themselves at 9-2.

In news related to the rise in wins, Boston Celtics owner Wys Grousbeck told the Boston Globe that his team expects to sell out all 41 games at TD Banknorth Garden.

Grousbeck: We’re up over $10 million from tickets sales, sponsorships, radio and TV advertising. It’s a nice bump. Most if not all that money is going back out the door to players. But, as an owner, I couldn’t be more excited about going to another sold-out game and feeling we have a good chance to win every game we’re in. That’s the way I feel when I go to the Red Sox or Patriots.

And now … The Franchise throws one out for THE FRANCHISE