Boston Celtics host Detroit Pistons looking to avoid first back-to-back NBA losses

BOSTON – The Boston Celtics will be looking to avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time this National Basketball Association (NBA) season when they face the visiting Detroit Pistons on Dec 12 (Dec 13, Singapore time).

The Celtics have not played since they lost 127-121 to the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Dec 7.

They did overcome a 14-point second-half deficit to take a four-point lead in the fourth quarter but could not keep pace in the final minutes.

“Effort was good,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said, reflecting on that game.

“You’re down 14, take the lead. In the fourth quarter, I felt like we didn’t really have a rhythm to the game, but we were able to take the lead. I thought we kind of just ran out of gas towards the end.”

It was Boston’s fifth game in seven nights, and the Celtics shot 18 of 60 from three-point territory.

“These are the games you’ve just gotta fight through it,” Jaylen Brown said.

“Tough schedule, but we don’t make any excuses. We know what the journey is about and we’re not skipping any steps. I thought we fought as a team. We didn’t let the rope go. We didn’t give up.”

The tight schedule has taken a toll on the team.

Sam Hauser, one of Boston’s top reserves, is listed as doubtful for the game against the Pistons.

Also questionable are All-Star Jayson Tatum (right patellar tendinopathy), Jaden Springer (illness) and Jordan Walsh (rib contusion).

In the Detroit camp, Cade Cunningham had 29 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds to help the Pistons end a three-game losing streak by beating the New York Knicks 120-111 on Dec 7.

Cunningham, Detroit’s first-round draft pick in 2021, is averaging 23.9 points, 9.4 assists and 7.3 rebounds in 21 games this season and would be a threat to the Celtics.

“I try to do whatever it takes to help my team win, and my teammates have made me look great this year,” he said. “I’m just trying to help my team win and we’ll see what happens with it.”

Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said his team are “trying to build and taking steps”.

“The hardest thing to do in the NBA is find consistency, whether as an individual or as a team,” he added.

“But it’s the habits we do every single day, and hopefully (the victory over New York) is another game that’s a big step for us.

“But we keep seeing the value in those habits and we keep getting better and better.”

The matchup will 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 points, nine rebounds and 14 assists when Detroit lost at Boston 130-120 on Dec 4.

“I don’t say this lightly by any means but (Cunningham) – he’s the guy,” Bickerstaff said.

“He has the ability to be an elite guy on a basketball team because of all of the things he’s capable of doing.

“He can manipulate the game, he can score, he can rebound and he makes his teammates better.”
REUTERS