Before the season started, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown took a shot at the Detroit Pistons, confidently saying the Celtics would beat them—even with their bench players. The Pistons, coming off a rough season with just 14 wins, finished at the bottom of the standings, making them an easy target for Brown’s jab.
Boston seemed to be backing up Brown’s words as they dominated Detroit early on, fueled by their torrid three-point shooting. Jayson Tatum was the engine driving the attack, scoring 17 points in the first quarter alone as the Celtics racked up 42 points. They kept the pressure in the second quarter, building a commanding 23-point lead at (67-44). But the Pistons, determined to show they’re a different team this season, fought back. Jaden Ivey sparked a rally that trimmed the deficit to just 11 points.
Cunningham Breaks Through but the Celtics Deliver in the Clutch
The Pistons turned up the heat in the second half, launching an 18-5 run that snatched the lead at (88-86). The momentum continued to swing in favor of Detroit as Cunningham pushed the advantage to six points, making it (112-106) with just five minutes left on the clock. However, the Celtics showed why they’re the champions. Jrue Holiday, who had yet to hit a field goal, picked the perfect moment to do it with back-to-back three-pointers that leveled the game. Tatum then took over, scoring the next 6 points to give Boston the edge. Malik Beasley’s three-pointer brought it within one, but the Celtics held their composure, sinking their next 6 free throws to maintain their flawless start.
Jayson Tatum was a relentless force, erupting for 37 points and grabbing 4 rebounds to lead the Celtics. Jaylen Brown was equally formidable, adding 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Off the bench, Payton Pritchard proved to be a sharpshooter, draining 5 of 7 three-pointers to finish with 19.
On the other side, Cade Cunningham delivered a versatile 21 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 blocks while Jaden Ivey maintained his high level of play, finishing with 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.
The Celtics are set for a showdown against the Bucks while the Pistons will meet the Heat on Tuesday.
