Each the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons entered Monday’s contest battered by accidents. However one group had superior depth, and the hole between the 2 rosters turned extra pronounced as the sport progressed.
The Celtics — the NBA’s finest group at 54-14 total, with a dominating 31-3 file at house — trounced the Pistons at TD Backyard, 119-94. Detroit entered the sport down 4 rotation gamers, together with Cade Cunningham (left knee harm administration) and Simone Fontecchio (left nice toe contusion). Ausar Thompson and Quentin Grimes remained in road garments and have been joined by Isaiah Stewart (proper hamstring soreness) after the primary half.
Boston was additionally shorthanded. Celebrity ahead Jayson Tatum (proper ankle impingement) didn’t play. Nor did Jrue Vacation or Al Horford (Grand Ledge). It didn’t matter, as a sizzling efficiency from 3 put the sport away by the top of the third quarter.
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The Celtics knocked down 20 of their 46 3-point makes an attempt, with Derrick White (22 factors, 10 assists, 10 rebounds, 6-for-12 from 3) and Kristaps Porzingis (20 factors, eight rebounds, 5-for-9 from 3) main the best way. Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 31 factors.
Jaden Ivey led the Pistons with 21 factors. Detroit was outscored by 36 factors behind the 3-point line, as they hit simply eight of their 28 makes an attempt. Taj Gibson made his debut with the group within the first quarter and began the second half instead of Isaiah Stewart, changing into a franchise-record twenty eighth participant to verify right into a recreation for the Pistons this season.
Accidents mounting for Pistons
The Pistons have been cautious with Cunningham’s left knee ever because the guard injured it within the first half in opposition to the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 7. The harm initially price him eight video games, and since then, he has sat out three extra video games, every as a part of a back-to-back.
After logging 32 minutes in opposition to the Miami Warmth on Sunday, Cunningham had the night time off in opposition to the Celtics.
Stewart joined Cunningham on the “out” checklist within the second half, changing into Detroit’s fifth participant in road garments. It’s unclear when Fontecchio, Grimes and Thompson will return — Fontecchio wasn’t on Sunday’s harm report, and the group hasn’t supplied timelines for the opposite two.
Thompson missed his fifth recreation in a row, his fourth attributable to an unnamed sickness after lacking the preliminary recreation with asthma-related difficulties. It was Grimes’ third straight absence and seventh in 9 video games. His knee soreness additionally delayed his debut after arriving from the New York Knicks on the commerce deadline, and he performed 4 video games earlier than the group shut him down once more.
White leads Celtics’ 3-point barrage
The Pistons struggled to find shooters and didn’t persistently shut out. The Celtics capitalized. White led a sizzling night time from 3 for Boston, accounting for 5 of the group’s 11 makes (on 23 makes an attempt) within the first half. The Pistons shot simply 4-for-16 on 3s, but was nonetheless inside 13 at halftime regardless of a 21-point distinction in 3-pointers.
Again-to-back 3s by Brown and White halfway via the second pushed Boston’s result in double digits for good, 50-37. Detroit couldn’t purchase a basket because the Celtics splashed shot after shot from deep — Fournier was chargeable for the group’s lone make of the second quarter, though he missed 5 of his six makes an attempt. His teammates went 0-for-3.
Detroit’s fortunes didn’t enhance within the second half, taking pictures 2-for-8 past the arc because the Celtics constructed a 26-point lead by the top of the third. White and Porzingis mixed for 11 3-point makes on 21 makes an attempt, exceeding Detroit’s whole of eight all by themselves.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Comply with him @omarisankofa.