The Detroit Pistons have made another mark. With a 117-97 home victory over the Boston Celtics, they celebrated their eighth win in a row and at the same time ended a twelve-game losing streak against the 2024 NBA champions.
Few would have expected Detroit to pull off such a streak – after all, the Pistons have only won 31 games in the last two seasons combined. Now they are on a roll to 33 wins and remain a serious playoff contender.
Beasley hot – Pistons turn it up after the break
Boston had to play without Jaylen Brown, but showed their class, especially in the first half. After a 15-point lead for Detroit, the Celtics fought back with a strong run and equalized the game at halftime (55:55). But after that, the Pistons finally took control. An outstanding third quarter (35:24) laid the foundation for the clear victory.
Malik Beasley was the man of the evening. Coming off the bench, he scored 26 points with a strong shooting percentage of 10/15 from the field. Cade Cunningham shone with 21 points and 11 assists. Center Jalen Duren also recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Jayson Tatum was the top scorer for the Celtics with 27 points. His partner Jaylen Brown was absent.
For the first time since his trade to the Pistons, Dennis Schröder had to sit out a game. The German guard was initially not listed in the injury report, but was later downgraded to “questionable” and then removed from the game.
So far this season, Schröder has averaged 18 minutes per game in his new role off the bench. It is still unclear whether he will be available again for the upcoming home game against the Denver Nuggets.
Pistons still on course for the playoffs
With their current run, the Pistons have not only set up their best winning streak in 17 years, but have also firmly established themselves in the top half of the Eastern Conference. With a record of 33-26, they currently sit in sixth place in the East. The Celtics, now with an 8-2 record from their last ten games, remain in second place behind the Cavaliers.
Whether the Pistons can continue their winning streak will be seen on Saturday night when the Denver Nuggets visit the Motor City. The Celtics, on the other hand, have to quickly recover from the clear defeat, because they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on the same evening.
