Celtics Halt Pistons’ Bid for Franchise-Record 14th Straight Win
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BOSTON — The Boston Celtics edged the Detroit Pistons 117-114 on Wednesday night, snapping Detroit’s 13-game winning streak and denying the Pistons their first-ever run of 14 consecutive victories.
Jaylen Brown powered Boston with 33 points and 10 rebounds, while Derrick White scored 11 of his 27 points in the final 4:30 to secure the decision at TD Garden. The loss leaves Detroit tied with its 1989-90 and 2003-04 championship teams for the longest winning streak in franchise history.
Cade Cunningham kept the Pistons in contention, pouring in 42 points. Detroit trailed by three in the closing seconds when Cunningham was fouled near midcourt attempting a three-pointer. After video review confirmed the shooting foul, he sank the first two free throws but missed the third. Payton Pritchard grabbed the rebound, hit two free throws of his own, and intercepted the final in-bounds pass to clinch the win for Boston.
“We all wanted it tonight; we all wanted 14 wins,” Cunningham said afterward. “It is a big deal. We wanted to be on that side of history. But it did not happen.”
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff noted his team’s missed opportunity. “We understand it is one game, and we understand also that we didn’t play our best basketball,” he told reporters. “There were things we could have done better and we still put ourselves in position at the end. We are still learning.”
Pritchard finished with 16 points as Boston notched its fifth victory in six outings. Despite the setback, Detroit sits atop the Eastern Conference at 15-3 after a transformative month for the club.
Source: Hoops Wire
