BOSTON — The Celtics battled the Pistons in another close game as the East rivals have had some high-stakes finishes already this season. But in the end, the C’s didn’t have enough as they lost 112-105 to the Pistons on Monday at TD Garden.
Derrick White was again excellent in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points in the frame, making him Monday’s “Name to Know” Player of the Game. The Name to Know Player of the Game is sponsored by John’s Sewer and Drain Cleaning, the Name to Know when your drains don’t flow.
White finished the night with 31 points and six rebounds, shooting 10-for-18 from the field and 5-for-12 on his 3-pointers. He shot 5-for-9 in the fourth quarter, including some crucial makes, to keep the Celtics within striking distance of the Pistons. But this time, Detroit came out on top as it made the right plays down the stretch.
Jaylen Brown was also critical to lead the Celtics with 34 points, eight rebounds and seven assists on the night. The star got to the paint at will, punishing the Duncan Robinson mismatch if the opportunity presented itself. Brown shot 13-for-25 from the field, though his 7-for-14 showing from the free throw line was tough.
But aside from Brown and White, it was a tough night for the rest of the Celtics. Payton Pritchard scored a quick 10 points early, but he only finished with 12 on 5-for-14 shooting. No other Celtic finished in double-figure scoring as the offense flowed through White and Brown frequently throughout the night.
The Celtics are now on a two-game losing streak to drop to 15-11 on the season. They were riding high after winning 10 of 12 games, but the 3-point shooting has cooled. Boston finished just 10-for-39 beyond the arc Monday despite a 5-for-11 start from beyond the arc. Next up for the Celtics are the Heat on Friday in Boston.