Down 21, Celtics rally to deal Pistons their 28th straight loss

Field Level Media|published: Thu 28th December, 22:44 2023

Dec 28, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket while Detroit Pistons forward Kevin Knox II (24) defends during the first half at TD Garden. credits: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics overcame a 21-point deficit and raised their home record to 15-0 by beating the Detroit Pistons 128-122 in overtime Thursday night.

The Pistons also made dubious NBA history, losing for the 28th straight time, the longest in-season losing streak in league history. If they fall on Saturday vs. the visiting Toronto Raptors, they would tie the longest skid of all time, including from one season to the next.

Boston trailed 115-113 after Detroit's Jaden Ivey made a 3-pointer with 2:32 remaining in overtime, but the Celtics scored the next six points and didn't relinquish the lead again.

Boston's Kristaps Porzingis scored a season-high 35 points and added eight rebounds. Jayson Tatum finished the game with 31 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 31 points, and nine assists. Detroit received 22 points and 10 rebounds from Ivey, 15 points and 14 rebounds from Jalen Duren and 17 points, 12 rebounds and six assists from Bojan Bogdanovic.

The Celtics, who trailed 64-43 late in the first half, led 108-106 after Cunningham was called for goaltending on a Tatum layup with 8.7 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but Bogdanovic sent the game to overtime when he collected the rebound of a missed 3-pointer and scored with 4.1 seconds left.

The Celtics won without Jaylen Brown, who was scratched because of a back contusion. He was injured when he collided with LeBron James during the second quarter of Boston's game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.

Detroit's Isaiah Stewart didn't play because of a toe injury. Kevin Knox II replaced Stewart in the starting lineup.

The Pistons were up 28-17 with 2:33 remaining in the opening quarter, but the Celtics closed the quarter on a 10-2 run and were within 30-27 going to the second period.

The Celtics faced their largest deficit of the season after Ivey gave the Pistons a 60-43 lead with 2:15 left in the second quarter. The lead grew to 21 with 45.1 seconds remaining in the half on two free throws by Duren, and the Pistons led 66-47 at halftime.

The Celtics were 4 of 24 from 3-point territory in the first two quarters, but they outscored Detroit 35-16 in the third. The teams headed to the final quarter tied at 82-82.

—Field Level Media

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