Jayson Tatum scored 37 points, including six crucial points in the final 65 seconds, to lead the Boston Celtics past the Detroit Pistons in a tight 124-118 win on Saturday night. Despite leading by 23 points in the first half, the Celtics had to rally late after falling behind in the third quarter.
The Celtics’ early momentum looked unstoppable, with Boston connecting on 15 three-pointers in the first 18 minutes to build a 64-44 lead. However, their shooting slowed down significantly, allowing the Pistons to outscore them 31-18 in the third quarter and briefly take control of the game.
Tatum’s pair of free throws put the Celtics up 116-114 with just over a minute remaining. The Pistons missed their next two shots, giving Tatum room to sink a jump shot, extending the lead to four points with only 29 seconds on the clock.
The Pistons briefly narrowed the lead when Malik Beasley hit a three-pointer, cutting the deficit to one point. However, Derrick White responded by sinking two free throws, and Boston closed out the game from the line to secure the victory.
Jaylen Brown had a strong performance alongside Tatum, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Derrick White and Al Horford added 17 points each. Jrue Holiday also played a pivotal role, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to tie the game after Boston fell behind in the third.
Detroit’s Jaden Ivey led his team with 26 points, and Cade Cunningham added 21 points and 10 assists. The Pistons struggled in the final minutes, however, only scoring eight points in the last eight minutes, as Boston’s defense held strong.
