Both the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons entered Monday’s contest battered by injuries. But one team had superior depth, and the gap between the two rosters became more pronounced as the game progressed.
The Celtics — the NBA’s best team at 54-14 overall, with a dominating 31-3 record at home — trounced the Pistons at TD Garden, 109-89. Detroit entered the game down four rotation players, including Cade Cunningham (left knee injury management) and Simone Fontecchio (left great toe contusion). Ausar Thompson and Quentin Grimes remained in street clothes and were joined by Isaiah Stewart (right hamstring soreness) after the first half.
Boston was also shorthanded. Superstar forward Jayson Tatum (right ankle impingement) didn’t play. Nor did Jrue Holiday or Al Horford (Grand Ledge). It didn’t matter, as a hot performance from 3 put the game away by the end of the third quarter.
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The Celtics knocked down 20 of their 46 3-point attempts, with Derrick White (22 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds, 6-for-12 from 3) and Kristaps Porzingis (20 points, eight rebounds, 5-for-9 from 3) leading the way. Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 31 points.
Jaden Ivey led the Pistons with 21 points. Detroit was outscored by 36 points behind the 3-point line, as they hit just eight of their 28 attempts. Taj Gibson made his debut with the team in the first quarter and started the second half in place of Isaiah Stewart, becoming a franchise-record 28th player to check into a game for the Pistons this season.
Injuries mounting for Pistons
The Pistons have been cautious with Cunningham’s left knee ever since the guard injured it in the first half against the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 7. The injury initially cost him eight games, and since then, he has sat out three additional games, each as part of a back-to-back.
After logging 32 minutes against the Miami Heat on Sunday, Cunningham had the night off against the Celtics.
Stewart joined Cunningham on the “out” list in the second half, becoming Detroit’s fifth player in street clothes. It’s unclear when Fontecchio, Grimes and Thompson will return — Fontecchio wasn’t on Sunday’s injury report, and the team hasn’t provided timelines for the other two.
Thompson missed his fifth game in a row, his fourth due to an unnamed illness after missing the initial game with asthma-related difficulties. It was Grimes’ third straight absence and seventh in nine games. His knee soreness also delayed his debut after arriving from the New York Knicks at the trade deadline, and he played four games before the team shut him down again.
White leads Celtics’ 3-point barrage
The Pistons struggled to locate shooters and failed to consistently close out. The Celtics capitalized. White led a hot night from 3 for Boston, accounting for five of the team’s 11 makes (on 23 attempts) in the first half. The Pistons shot just 4-for-16 on 3s, yet was still within 13 at halftime despite a 21-point difference in 3-pointers.
Back-to-back 3s by Brown and White midway through the second pushed Boston’s lead to double digits for good, 50-37. Detroit couldn’t buy a basket as the Celtics splashed shot after shot from deep — Fournier was responsible for the team’s lone make of the second quarter, although he missed five of his six attempts. His teammates went 0-for-3.
Detroit’s fortunes didn’t improve in the second half, shooting 2-for-8 beyond the arc as the Celtics built a 26-point lead by the end of the third. White and Porzingis combined for 11 3-point makes on 21 attempts, exceeding Detroit’s total of eight all by themselves.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.