BOSTON – Avery Bradley received a warm reception when he was introduced with the starters for the Detroit Pistons.
Once the game started, his former team’s defense was more than accommodating to his new teammates who collectively shot the ball like no other team has against the Celtics this season which ended with Detroit holding on for a 118-108 win.
Detroit (13-6) scored more points against Boston (18-4) than any team this season, fueled in large part by them shooting a collective 51.8 percent from the field which was also the best any team has shot against the Celtics this season.
Tobias Harris led Detroit with 31 points while Andre Drummond tallied a double-double of 26 points and 22 rebounds. Former Celtic Avery Bradley, playing in his first game against his former team, finished with 13 points and five assists.
The Celtics were led by Marcus Smart’s 23 points off the bench. Kyrie Irving chipped in with 18 points.
Following Boston’s 16-game winning streak, the Celtics have split their last four games.
Boston had rallied in the fourth behind some impressive shooting by Smart – yes, Marcus Smart – to put the Celtics ahead 100-99 only for Detroit to score five straight which led to a Celtics time-out with 4:16 to play.
A pair of free throws by Jayson Tatum made it a one-possession game only for a Reggie Jackson layup pushed Detroit’s lead to four points. The former Boston College standout had 20 points and seven assists.
It was that kind of game for Boston, one where they never seemed capable of getting the kind of second-half traction they’re used to getting that catapults them to victory.
No matter how hard the Celtics pushed back, Detroit pushed harder.
It should serve as a humbling experience for Boston which has made a living this season off of rallying back from double-digit deficits.
Boston has had nine games this season in which they trailed by double digits (Detroit led by as many as 11 points), posting a 6-3 record.
But the Pistons know a thing or two about that, posting a 7-5 record after trailing by 10 or more points.
To Detroit’s credit, they never let any momentum Boston had ever reach that point, getting timely baskets while making all the necessary stops defensively to either secure its lead or expand it.
And the challenges for the Celtics don’t let up, not with the Philadelphia 76ers coming to town on Thursday.
Like Detroit, they too will be gunning for Boston with the goal being to knock off the team with the best record in the East.
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