BOSTON — In a commanding performance, Payton Pritchard scored an impressive 27 points, leading the Boston Celtics to a decisive 123-99 win against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night.
Pritchard showcased his shooting prowess with seven 3-pointers, solidifying his candidacy for the Sixth Man of the Year award as he made his milestone 500th career three-pointer, becoming the tenth player in Celtics history to achieve this feat. Derrick White also contributed significantly, adding 23 points along with seven 3-pointers of his own. This victory marks Boston’s fourth win in their last five games.
The Celtics excelled from beyond the arc, hitting 20 3-pointers throughout the contest, significantly extending their lead to a maximum of 32 points in the final quarter. Six players from Boston reached double figures in scoring.
For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham led the team with 18 points, complemented by eight rebounds and eight assists.
Boston’s lineup was missing All-Star Jayson Tatum, who was given a night off due to a sore right knee. Sam Hauser also joined him on the sidelines, dealing with a strained abdominal muscle. However, Coach Joe Mazzulla reassured that Tatum’s knee issue is not severe.
In terms of takeaways, Coach J.B. Bickerstaff of the Pistons expressed hope that his team could build on their previous victory against the Knicks. Nevertheless, consistency remains a challenge for this young team, as they have only managed back-to-back wins on two occasions this season.
The Celtics, on their part, overcame a sluggish first half and found their rhythm in the second, leading to a more straightforward victory. With Tatum resting, the Celtics displayed a balanced offense, which is encouraging as they came off their longest break between games this season.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Boston outscored Detroit 34-24 in the third quarter, widening the gap from a 15-point halftime lead to 93-68 by the start of the fourth quarter.
An important statistic was the Pistons’ struggle from long range; they made only 2 of 19 attempts from the three-point line in the first half and finished the game with a dismal 7 of 37.
Looking ahead, the Pistons are set to host the Miami Heat on Monday, while the Celtics will travel to face the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
