Game ID: 22301011
Boston Celtics @ Detroit Pistons
Friday, March 22, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DET 34 19 30 19 102BOS 32 37 35 25 129
BOS @ DET ScoutingBOS @ DET Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DET availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 2 since 3/11, not on tonight's roster
OUT Evbuomwan missed 8 since 2/27, returns tonight: 1 min (5% of 22)
OUT Brown Jr. missed 2 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 14 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Flynn missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 1 min (8% of 14)
BACK Grimes back 3/11 after 4, 18 min since (95% of 19)
BACK Umude back 3/09 after 10, 11 min since (83% of 13)
NEW Ivey 29 to 35 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Brown Jr. missed 3 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Rhoden missed 15 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Evbuomwan back 3/15 after 8, 1 min since (5% of 22)
BACK Grimes back 3/11 after 4, 18 min since (95% of 19)
BACK Flynn back 3/07 after 2, 3 min since (18% of 14)
BACK Umude back 3/09 after 10, 11 min since (83% of 13)
NEW Ivey 29 to 37 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 3/18 · back-to-backOUT Brown Jr. missed 4 since 3/11, returns tonight: 8 min (41% of 19)
OUT Rhoden missed 16 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Evbuomwan back 3/15 after 8, 1 min since (5% of 22)
BACK Grimes back 3/11 after 4, 18 min since (95% of 19)
BACK Flynn back 3/15 after 2, 1 min since (8% of 14)
BACK Umude back 3/09 after 10, 12 min since (96% of 13)
NEW Fontecchio 30 to 35 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Rhoden missed 17 since 2/10, out tonight
BACK Evbuomwan back 3/15 after 8, 9 min since (42% of 22)
BACK Grimes back 3/11 after 4, 18 min since (95% of 19)
BACK Brown Jr. back 3/18 after 4, 8 min since (41% of 19)
BACK Flynn back 3/15 after 2, 10 min since (68% of 14)
NEW Fontecchio 30 to 36 min over the last 4
DET availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Rhoden missed 18 since 2/10, returns tonight: 17 min (120% of 14)
BACK Evbuomwan back 3/15 after 8, 16 min since (72% of 22)
BACK Brown Jr. back 3/18 after 4, 11 min since (59% of 19)
BACK Flynn back 3/15 after 2, 8 min since (53% of 14)
NEW Fontecchio 30 to 36 min over the last 3
NEW Umude 13 to 20 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restBACK Evbuomwan back 3/15 after 8, 20 min since (88% of 22)
BACK Brown Jr. back 3/18 after 4, 14 min since (76% of 19)
BACK Rhoden back 3/22 after 18, 17 min since (120% of 14)
BACK Flynn back 3/15 after 2, 8 min since (53% of 14)
NEW Sasser 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Fournier 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Umude 13 to 21 min over the last 4
DET availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Duren missed 2 since 3/22, out tonight
OUT Umude missed 2 since 3/22, out tonight
BACK Brown Jr. back 3/18 after 4, 16 min since (84% of 19)
BACK Rhoden back 3/22 after 18, 15 min since (102% of 14)
NEW Sasser 19 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Wiseman 17 to 25 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Cunningham missed 2 since 3/24, returns tonight: 29 min (86% of 34)
OUT Duren missed 3 since 3/22, returns tonight: 25 min (87% of 29)
OUT Umude missed 3 since 3/22, out tonight
BACK Brown Jr. back 3/18 after 4, 18 min since (93% of 19)
BACK Rhoden back 3/22 after 18, 18 min since (126% of 14)
NEW Sasser 19 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Wiseman 17 to 28 min over the last 5
DET availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Umude missed 4 since 3/22, out tonight
BACK Cunningham back 3/27 after 2, 29 min since (86% of 34)
BACK Duren back 3/27 after 3, 25 min since (87% of 29)
BACK Rhoden back 3/22 after 18, 14 min since (98% of 14)
NEW Sasser 19 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Wiseman 17 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Flynn 14 to 19 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 3 since 3/09, out tonight
BACK Tillman back 3/12 after 2, 26 min since (215% of 12)
BACK Queta back 3/11 after 8, 2 min since (17% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 3/11 after 3, 18 min since (171% of 10)
NEW Kornet 15 to 21 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/17 · 2 days' restOUT Porziņģis missed 4 since 3/09, out tonight
OUT Queta missed 2 since 3/12, returns tonight: 8 min (75% of 11)
BACK Tillman back 3/12 after 2, 22 min since (180% of 12)
BACK Brissett back 3/11 after 3, 13 min since (124% of 10)
NEW Kornet 15 to 20 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/18 · back-to-backOUT Porziņģis missed 5 since 3/09, returns tonight: 22 min (74% of 29)
BACK Tillman back 3/12 after 2, 20 min since (160% of 12)
BACK Queta back 3/11 after 8, 5 min since (46% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 3/11 after 3, 17 min since (162% of 10)
NEW Hauser 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Kornet 15 to 20 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restBACK Porziņģis back 3/18 after 5, 22 min since (74% of 29)
BACK Tillman back 3/12 after 2, 19 min since (156% of 12)
BACK Queta back 3/11 after 8, 5 min since (46% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 3/11 after 3, 17 min since (165% of 10)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Hauser 21 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Kornet 15 to 22 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Hauser missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 24 min (116% of 21)
OUT Queta missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 3 min (25% of 11)
BACK Porziņģis back 3/18 after 5, 25 min since (85% of 29)
BACK Tillman back 3/12 after 2, 18 min since (148% of 12)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Brissett 10 to 17 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/23 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/18 after 5, 25 min since (87% of 29)
BACK Hauser back 3/22 after 2, 24 min since (116% of 21)
BACK Queta back 3/17 after 2, 6 min since (50% of 11)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Brissett 10 to 18 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 4 since 3/18, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/18 after 5, 25 min since (87% of 29)
BACK Hauser back 3/22 after 2, 28 min since (136% of 21)
BACK Queta back 3/17 after 2, 6 min since (50% of 11)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Kornet 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Brissett 10 to 21 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/28 · 2 days' restOUT Holiday missed 5 since 3/18, returns tonight: 36 min (108% of 34)
OUT Queta missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/18 after 5, 27 min since (94% of 29)
BACK Hauser back 3/22 after 2, 28 min since (134% of 21)
NEW Horford 28 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Pritchard 22 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Brissett 10 to 16 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 3 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/28 after 5, 36 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Hauser back 3/22 after 2, 26 min since (128% of 21)
NEW Horford 28 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Pritchard 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Brissett 10 to 16 min over the last 3
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Cunningham at 18 and Fontecchio at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 46 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 31 and Brown at 30 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holiday (2 straight), Hauser (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 46 percent from three to Detroit's 31 and the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 15 times a game to Boston's 10. Call it Boston 118, Detroit 109.
3/15 vs MIA 95-108 — DET notes
DET lost 95-108. DET shot 43% (36 of 84) to MIA's 47%, 10 of 38 from three, and got to the line 15 times to MIA's 21. DET turned it over 17 times to MIA's 8, and MIA turned those into 14 steals. Fontecchio led with 24 (9 of 16, 5 of 8 from three); Duren added 15, Ivey 14. Q1 was theirs, 28-27, but the other 3 periods went 81-67 against them. Duren's -16 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/17 vs MIA 101-104 — DET notes
DET lost 101-104. DET shot 46% (38 of 83) to MIA's 45%, 14 of 36 from three. Fournier led with 18 (6 of 14, 4 of 8 from three); Cunningham added 17, Fontecchio 13. Q3 was theirs, 26-19, the deficit cut from 10 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 85-75 against them. Stewart's -24 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/18 @ BOS 94-119 — DET notes
DET lost 94-119. DET shot 43% (36 of 84) to BOS's 45%, 9 of 29 from three. The glass went 43-53 against them. Ivey led with 21 (10 of 19, 1 of 4 from three); Wiseman added 12, Flynn 11. Q4 was theirs, 28-27, the deficit cut from 26 to 25, but the other 3 periods went 92-66 against them. Flynn's -23 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/20 vs IND 103-122 — DET notes
DET lost 103-122. DET shot 41% (37 of 90) to IND's 57%, 5 of 23 from three, and went to the line 30 times to IND's 18 — 24 points from the stripe to their 11. Cunningham led with 23 (9 of 22, 5 of 6 at the line); Ivey added 15, Evbuomwan 11. Q4 was theirs, 25-24, the deficit cut from 20 to 19, but the other 3 periods went 98-78 against them. Umude's -27 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/22 vs BOS 102-129 — DET notes
DET lost 102-129. DET shot 51% (42 of 83) to BOS's 53%, 9 of 31 from three, and got to the line 13 times to BOS's 27. DET turned it over 18 times to BOS's 7, and BOS turned those into 9 steals. Wiseman led with 24 (11 of 13); Ivey added 16, Cunningham 15. Q1 was theirs, 34-32, but the other 3 periods went 97-68 against them. Cunningham's -27 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/24 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 17 free throws a game; Cunningham at 16 and Ivey at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 102, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 15 free throws a game; Williamson at 22 and McCollum at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Daniels (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 102 a night to Detroit's 116 and the arc, New Orleans at 38 percent from three to Detroit's 30. Call it New Orleans 115, Detroit 107.
3/25 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 100, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 33 and DiVincenzo at 17 a game. Without Anunoby (3 straight), Robinson (49 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 21 free throws a game; Cunningham at 18 and Ivey at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Duren (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 100 a night to Detroit's 118 and the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 15 times a game to New York's 11. Call it New York 116, Detroit 103, New York by 13.
3/27 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 104, shooting 48 percent and 45 from three, 17 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Reid at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Towns (9 straight). 2 days' rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 122, shooting 43 percent and 28 from three, 22 free throws a game; Ivey at 15 and Wiseman at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Cunningham (2 straight), Duren (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 45 percent from three to Detroit's 28 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 104 a night to Detroit's 122. Call it Minnesota 118, Detroit 104, Minnesota by 14.
3/29 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Kuzma at 24 and Poole at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (7 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 119, shooting 42 percent and 27 from three, 24 free throws a game; Cunningham at 23 and Wiseman at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the arc, Washington at 35 percent from three to Detroit's 27 and the line, where Detroit takes 24 free throws a game to Washington's 19. Call it Washington 117, Detroit 111.
3/14 vs PHX 127-112 — BOS notes
BOS won 127-112. BOS shot 53% (47 of 89) to PHX's 47%, 25 of 50 from three. BOS turned it over 8 times to PHX's 13. The glass went 33-51 against them. Brown led with 37 (14 of 23, 5 of 9 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Tatum added 26, Horford 24. The hinge was Q3, 37-25: a lead of 5 became 17, and the lead reached 20. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/17 @ WAS 130-104 — BOS notes
BOS won 130-104. BOS shot 49% (43 of 87) to WAS's 46%, 24 of 50 from three, and went to the line 24 times to WAS's 14 — 20 points from the stripe to their 12. Tatum led with 30 (8 of 17, 6 of 12 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Hauser added 30, Pritchard 14. The hinge was Q1, 45-27: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 36. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/18 vs DET 119-94 — BOS notes
BOS won 119-94. BOS shot 45% (43 of 95) to DET's 43%, 22 of 49 from three. The glass went 53-43 for them. Brown led with 31 (11 of 20, 3 of 6 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Pritchard added 23, White 22. The hinge was Q3, 33-20: a lead of 13 became 26, and the lead reached 29. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/20 vs MIL 122-119 — BOS notes
BOS won 122-119. BOS shot 47% (40 of 85) to MIL's 54%, 18 of 40 from three, and went to the line 29 times to MIL's 14 — 24 points from the stripe to their 12. BOS turned it over 9 times to MIL's 14. Tatum led with 31 (9 of 19, 4 of 7 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); White added 23, Brown 21. The hinge was Q2, 36-28: a lead of 5 became 13, and the lead reached 21. Horford was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/22 @ DET 129-102 — BOS notes
BOS won 129-102. BOS shot 53% (47 of 89) to DET's 51%, 16 of 45 from three, and went to the line 27 times to DET's 13 — 19 points from the stripe to their 9. BOS turned it over 7 times to DET's 18. Brown led with 33 (13 of 19, 3 of 8 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Pritchard added 20, White 19. The hinge was Q2, 37-19: BOS came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 16, and the lead reached 27. White was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/23 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and Dosunmu at 24 a game. One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Tatum at 29 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holiday (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 106 a night to Chicago's 117 and the arc, Boston at 45 percent from three to Chicago's 38. Call it Boston 117, Chicago 114, Chicago keeping it close.
3/25 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Johnson at 23 a game. Without Young (14 straight), Johnson (2 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 22 free throws a game; Tatum at 29 and Brown at 28 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holiday (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 106 a night to Atlanta's 114 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-3 a night and Atlanta minus-1. Call it Boston 119, Atlanta 114.
3/28 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Bogdanović at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Young (16 straight), Johnson (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Tatum at 31 and Brown at 27 a game. Without Holiday (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 110 a night to Atlanta's 116. Call it Boston 119, Atlanta 115, Atlanta keeping it close.
3/30 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; McCollum at 24 and Williamson at 23 a game. Without Ingram (4 straight), Daniels (21 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Tatum at 31 and Brown at 24 a game. One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 106 a night to Boston's 115. Call it New Orleans 115, Boston 114, Boston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DETBB B. Boeheim
CC C. Cunningham
CM C. Metu
EF E. Fournier
JI J. Ivey
JR J. Rhoden
JW J. Wiseman
MS M. Sasser
TB T. Brown Jr.
TE T. Evbuomwan
BOSDW D. White
JB J. Brown
JD J. Davison
JW J. Walsh
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
NQ N. Queta
OB O. Brissett
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
SM S. Mykhailiuk
XT X. Tillman
DET/BOS the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Jaylen Brown scores 33 points, NBA-leading Celtics beat Pistons 129-102 for 8th straight win
DETROIT -- — Jaylen Brown scored 33 points and the NBA-leading Boston Celtics won their eighth straight game, beating the short-handed Detroit Pistons 129-102 on Friday night.
“It's an honor to coach Jaylen when is playing like this,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “He's processing every possession on both ends of the floor and he's getting the shots he wants, both for himself and his teammates. He's playing very well-rounded basketball and it has been fun to watch.”
Boston improved to 56-15 — an .800 winning percentage. Detroit is tied with Washington at the bottom of the league at 12-58 — 44 games behind the Celtics.
Peyton Pritchard added 20 points, and Derrick White had 19 points and 11 assists. Jayson Tatum sat out against Detroit to rest an ankle for the second time in five days, also missing a 119-94 home victory Monday night.
Brown was 13 of 19 from the floor, including 10 of 11 on 2-point shots.
“I just wanted to be aggressive, because we had some guys out,” he said. ”When (Tatum) isn't out there, I know I have to play a little bit faster."
The Celtics were starting a season-long six-game road trip.
“It's the same challenge you have on any trip -- continuing to play at a high level and keep the main things as the main things,” Mazzulla said.
James Wiseman had a season-high 24 points for Detroit, and Jaden Ivey had 16. The Pistons have dropped nine straight against Boston.
“The stats and stuff really don't matter to me, because I want to win,” said Wiseman, who started for the first time this season. “We've had a lot of peaks and valleys this season, but there are still things we can get better at down the stretch.”
The Pistons were missing their top five post players in Jalen Duren (back), Stanley Umude (ankle), Simone Fontecchio (toe), Isaiah Stewart (hamstring) and Ausar Thompson (illness). That left them with a starting backcourt of Tosan Evboumwan, Troy Brown Jr . and Wiseman.
“I can't ever use (talent level) as an excuse," Pistons coach Monty Williams said. “We showed in the first quarter and a little in the third that we could compete. We just had two tough quarters -- 19 in the second and 19 in the fourth.”
Tied at 43 in the second period, Boston took over in a stretch that included parts of the second and third quarters. The Celtics had a 47-21 run to take a 90-64 lead with 6:10 left in the third.
Brown finished with 17 points in the third to help Boston take a 104-83 lead. Mazzulla emptied the bench in the fourth.