Celtics host Pistons trying to keep away from first back-to-back losses

The Boston Celtics might be trying to keep away from shedding back-to-back video games for the primary time this season once they face the visiting Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

The Celtics have not performed since they dropped a 127-121 resolution to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday at residence. Boston overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to take a four-point lead within the fourth quarter however could not maintain tempo within the remaining minutes.

“Effort was good,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned. “You are down 14, take the lead. Within the fourth quarter I felt like we did not actually have a rhythm to the sport, however we had been in a position to take the lead. I assumed we form of simply ran out of fuel right here in direction of the top.”

It was Boston’s fifth recreation in seven nights, and the Celtics shot 18 of 60 from 3-point territory.

“These are the video games you’ve got simply gotta battle via it,” Jaylen Brown mentioned. “Robust schedule, however we do not make any excuses. We all know what the journey is about and we’re not skipping any steps. I assumed we fought as a crew. We did not let the rope go. We did not quit.”

Sam Hauser, certainly one of Boston’s prime reserves, left Saturday’s recreation within the second quarter with what the crew known as proper adductor tightness. Mazzulla downplayed the damage in his postgame feedback, saying, “He is doing fairly good. He mentioned he’d be OK, however he simply wasn’t in a position to end (Saturday’s recreation). However afterwards, he mentioned he was good.”

Nevertheless, Hauser was listed as uncertain for Thursday’s recreation. Listed as questionable are All-Star Jayson Tatum (proper patella tendiopathy), Jaden Springer (non-COVID sickness) and Jordan Walsh (rib contusion).

Cade Cunningham had 29 factors, 15 assists and 10 rebounds to assist the Pistons finish a three-game shedding streak by beating the New York Knicks 120-111 Saturday. Cunningham, Detroit’s first-round draft choose in 2021, is averaging 23.9 factors, 9.4 assists and seven.3 rebounds in 21 video games this season.

“I attempt to do no matter it takes to assist my crew win, and my teammates have made me look nice this 12 months,” Cunningham mentioned. “I am simply attempting to assist my crew win and we’ll see what occurs with it.”

The Pistons used an 18-4 run within the fourth quarter to drag away from the Knicks. Detroit’s Malik Beasley made 7 of 10 3-pointers and completed the sport with 23 factors.

“We’re attempting to construct and taking steps,” Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff mentioned. “The toughest factor to do within the NBA is locate consistency, whether or not as a person or as a crew. However it’s the habits we do each single day and, hopefully, (the victory over New York) is one other recreation that is an enormous step for us. However we maintain seeing the worth in these habits and we maintain getting higher and higher.”

Thursday’s matchup would be the third time the Pistons and Celtics have met this season. Boston prevailed 124-118 at Detroit on Oct. 26, and Cunningham had 27 factors, 9 rebounds and 14 assists when Detroit misplaced at Boston 130-120 on Dec. 4.

“I do not say this calmly by any means however being round (Cunningham) and spending time with him — he is the man,” Bickerstaff mentioned. “He has the flexibility to be an elite man on a basketball crew due to all the issues he is able to doing. He can manipulate the sport, he can rating, he can rebound, and he makes his teammates higher.”

–Subject Degree Media