The highest two groups within the Jap Convention squared off in one other thriller Monday evening.
Jaylen Brown (32 factors, 11 rebounds) outproduced fellow NBA All-Star starter Cade Cunningham, however his last-second fadeaway missed the mark, permitting the East-leading Detroit Pistons to flee with a 104-103 win over the second-place Celtics at Little Caesars Enviornment.
“(Brown is) an excellent gifted participant taking part in at an all-time degree proper now,” Pistons ahead Tobias Harris mentioned in a postgame interview with NBC sideline reporter Robbie Hummel. “… On the finish of the day, I do know he’s going to hit robust photographs, however it’s nearly making these seems exhausting for him.”
Cunningham, whom Brown guarded for a lot of the sport, completed with 16 factors on 4-of-17 capturing, however he dished out 14 assists, greater than Boston’s workforce complete. Harris led the Pistons with 25 factors, together with a nook 3-pointer with 1:37 remaining that proved to be the game-winner.
5 Celtics gamers scored in double figures, and facilities Neemias Queta and Luka Garza helped hold Boston aggressive within the second half with sturdy minutes in opposition to Detroit’s formidable frontcourt. However it was a tough outing for Derrick White, who went 1-for-11 from the sector and 0-for-6 from 3-point vary to complete with a season-low 4 factors.
The Celtics completed with a 14-9 edge in offensive rebounds and made extra 3-pointers and free throws than the Pistons, however Detroit’s commanding margins in factors off turnovers (19-4) and fast-break factors (20-3) proved expensive for Boston.
Although Detroit received the season collection between the 2 East front-runners 3-1, all 4 video games had been determined by seven factors or fewer, with the ultimate three carrying a playoff-type really feel.
“The margins are very, very skinny when two nice groups are taking part in with that kind of physicality in that kind of surroundings,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla instructed reporters postgame. “Truthfully, I assumed the sport got here right down to, like, six 50-50 balls that we didn’t give you.”
The loss closed out a four-game highway journey for the Celtics, who fell to 26-16 on the season. They’ll be again at TD Backyard on Wednesday to face the last-place Indiana Pacers for the fourth time since Dec. 22.
For the second straight recreation, Brown performed the whole first quarter and was instantly productive. After notching 18 first-period factors in opposition to Atlanta on Saturday, he put up 13 with 5 rebounds in opposition to Detroit, accounting for almost half of Boston’s early-game scoring.
Brown additionally was concerned in one other altercation with bruising Pistons large man Isaiah Stewart — the third conflict between the 2 within the final two seasons. Lower than 30 seconds after Stewart checked in for the primary time, he and Brown turned entangled whereas preventing for a rebound, leading to double technical fouls on the pair.
Secondary scoring, nevertheless, was a difficulty for the Celtics. As a workforce, they shot simply 33% from the sector and 27% from 3-point vary within the first half. The Pistons helped trigger these offensive issues by racking up six steals and 5 blocks earlier than halftime, however Boston’s shooters additionally struggled to transform open seems. That included Brown, who went 1-for-5 from three within the first half, and particularly White, who missed his first seven field-goal makes an attempt.
Detroit began 2-for-14 from 3-point vary, however it labored the glass properly, capitalized on takeaways and made life difficult for Boston’s bigs. Queta dedicated two early turnovers, and Garza was whistled for 3 fouls in his first three minutes of ground time.
Twenty-three of the Pistons’ 26 first-quarter factors got here on free throws or photographs on the rim. They then opened the second with an 11-4 run that spanned almost six minutes, with Brown watching a lot of that from the bench.
Garza picked up his fourth foul early within the second quarter, prompting to ship in reserve large Xavier Tillman for his first non-garbage-time minutes since Nov. 30. Baylor Scheierman additionally noticed time as a (very) small-ball heart within the first half, filling a task that may have gone to Josh Minott had he not missed his seventh straight recreation with an ankle sprain.
A ten-0 run in opposition to that lineup helped ship Detroit into halftime with a 59-51 lead.
The Celtics lastly dialed of their capturing within the second half. They opened the third quarter with consecutive 3-pointers by Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard and Hauser once more. 4 minutes later, they bought treys from Anfernee Simons, Brown and Garza — who reentered after Queta was referred to as for his fourth foul — with all three both tying the sport or placing Boston forward. One other by Garza seconds into the fourth quarter made it 85-84 Celtics.
A string of three fast Celtics fouls — together with offensive fouls on Jordan Walsh and Brown — shifted momentum towards Detroit. Boston responded with a tricky putback by Garza, a Simons steal and a game-tying Brown jumper, then went 4 1/2 minutes and not using a made discipline aim.
With 6:30 to play, White misfired on a 3-pointer, then bit on a Duncan Robinson jab step on the following possession. Robinson proceeded to empty his fifth three of the evening to place Detroit up 96-91. However Queta made positive that lead didn’t maintain, drawing two fouls to spark a 6-0 Celtics rally.
Brown hit two robust driving jumpers within the last minute, however he missed two late free throws earlier than clanging his would-be buzzer-beater off the again rim.
