Pistons Visit Boston as Celtics Look to Bounce Back at TD Garden
The Boston Celtics are back home at TD Garden on Monday night, but the challenge in front of them is anything but simple. After having their recent winning momentum slowed in Milwaukee, Boston now welcomes the hottest team in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons, in a matchup that already feels like a measuring stick for both sides.
Boston’s strong run was brought to a halt on Thursday when the Celtics struggled badly from three-point range in the second half against the Bucks. Just three shots from deep were made on 26 attempts after halftime, and what had looked promising early quickly slipped away. It was one of those nights that head coach Joe Mazzulla summed up simply as “not our night,” and the message afterward was clear: the work has to continue, and the focus has to sharpen.
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That task becomes tougher with Detroit arriving as the East’s top team. The Pistons have been one of the league’s biggest stories this season, winning 20 of their first 25 games, a start that is tied for the second-best in franchise history. Their confidence was on full display after a dominant win over Atlanta, where Detroit rolled by 27 points and looked every bit like a team that believes it belongs at the top. Center Jalen Duren didn’t hesitate to say it afterward, stating that the Pistons see themselves as the best team in the league.
Interestingly, Detroit’s longest winning streak of the season was snapped the last time they came to Boston. Just before Thanksgiving, the Celtics edged out the Pistons in a tight, emotional game at TD Garden. Since then, Detroit has gone 5-2, showing that loss didn’t linger. Cade Cunningham continues to lead the way, averaging nearly 27 points per game, and Boston fans haven’t forgotten his explosive 42-point performance in the Garden last month, even in a losing effort.
Despite the recent stumble, the Celtics still have plenty going for them. They have won 10 of their last 13 games and remain dangerous, especially at home. Jaylen Brown has been outstanding, averaging over 29 points per game this season and regularly crossing the 30-point mark. His approach hasn’t changed, though. For him, it’s still about competing every night and pushing the team toward its ceiling.
On paper, this matchup is tight. Detroit scores more, Boston defends slightly better, and both teams have split their first two meetings, with the home side winning each time. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., and the atmosphere should feel playoff-like. For the Celtics, it’s a chance to respond. For the Pistons, it’s another opportunity to prove their rise is very real.
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