BOSTON — In an impressive display of teamwork and skill, Jaylen Brown contributed 28 points and nine assists, while Kristaps Porzingis added 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds to guide the Boston Celtics to a 130-120 triumph over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday evening. This win marked the Celtics’ ninth victory in their last ten games.
Derrick White also played a vital role with 14 points and 11 assists, and Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 19 points for Boston. The Celtics set the tone early, scoring 12 consecutive points to establish an early 18-4 lead within just four minutes of the game, extending that advantage to as much as 20 points at one point.
Boston maintained a comfortable lead throughout most of the match until the fourth quarter, when Detroit managed to close the gap by hitting four consecutive 3-pointers, reducing the deficit to eight points at 109-101. This prompted Boston’s coach, Joe Mazzulla, to reintroduce Brown into the game. In the final minute, Tobias Harris’ three-pointer brought the Pistons even closer, cutting the Celtics’ lead to five points, but Pritchard’s timely three-pointer ultimately clinched the victory for Boston.
For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham posted an impressive 27 points, along with 14 assists and nine rebounds, while Harris matched his score with another 27 points. Malik Beasley made a significant impact off the bench, contributing 23 points.
Looking at the statistics, the Pistons achieved a season-best with 20 three-pointers made on 39 attempts, including three from Beasley and one from Marcus Sasser, helping them mount a comeback attempt in the game’s final moments. Despite being without stars Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday due to injuries, the Celtics proved to be too formidable for the Pistons to overcome.
A notable moment came with 3:46 remaining in the game when Porzingis was fouled while driving to the basket. His momentum carried him into the stands, where he exchanged high-fives with fans before raising his arms in celebration, earning a loud cheer from the crowd. He successfully converted both free throws, extending Boston’s lead to 121-107.
In terms of individual performances, Sam Hauser made his second start of the season and shone in the third quarter, scoring 14 of his season-high 20 points, including making five of ten attempts from beyond the arc.
Looking ahead, the Celtics are set to host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, while the Pistons will face the New York Knicks on Saturday.
