Dec 7, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) reacts in the course of the second half in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies at TD Backyard. Necessary Credit score: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Photos The Boston Celtics shall be trying to keep away from dropping back-to-back video games for the primary time this season after they face the visiting Detroit Pistons on Thursday.
The Celtics have not performed since they dropped a 127-121 determination to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday at house. Boston overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to take a four-point lead within the fourth quarter however could not preserve tempo within the ultimate 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 have been in a position to take the lead. I assumed we type of simply ran out of fuel right here in the direction of the tip.”
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 struggle via it,” Jaylen Brown mentioned. “Powerful 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 workforce. We did not let the rope go. We did not surrender.”
Sam Hauser, considered one of Boston’s high reserves, left Saturday’s recreation within the second quarter with what the workforce known as proper adductor tightness. Mazzulla downplayed the harm 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 dropping streak by beating the New York Knicks 120-111 Saturday. Cunningham, Detroit’s first-round draft decide 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 workforce win, and my teammates have made me look nice this yr,” Cunningham mentioned. “I am simply making an attempt to assist my workforce win and we’ll see what occurs with it.”
The Pistons used an 18-4 run within the fourth quarter to tug away from the Knicks. Detroit’s Malik Beasley made 7 of 10 3-pointers and completed the sport with 23 factors.
“We’re making an attempt to construct and taking steps,” Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff mentioned. “The toughest factor to do within the NBA is use consistency, whether or not as a person or as a workforce. But it surely’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 preserve seeing the worth in these habits and we preserve 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 frivolously by any means however being round (Cunningham) and spending time with him — he is the man,” Bickerstaff mentioned. “He has the power to be an elite man on a basketball workforce due to the entire issues he is able to doing. He can manipulate the sport, he can rating, he can rebound, and he makes his teammates higher.”
–Subject Stage Media