The defending NBA champions have won twice in the first week of the season. On paper, the Boston Celtics appear poised to collect another double-digit win on Saturday when they visit Detroit.
The Celtics have won their last nine games against the Pistons, who are 0-2 this season and coming off the worst campaign in franchise history. Detroit’s last win in the series was a 112-111 squeaker on Feb. 16, 2022.
Boston got off to a roaring start to the season, beating the New York Knicks 132-109 on Tuesday while making a league record 29 3-pointers.
The Celtics followed that up with a 122-102 road win over the Washington Wizards on Thursday. Boston led by just one point after the first quarter but cut it to 10 at halftime. The Celtics outscored the Wizards 34-19 in the third quarter to win.
“Once we settled into the game, it was great,” said Boston coach Joe Mazzella. “I think it took a while because of how fast those guys are, and then I think something went wrong the last few days. But we responded well.”
The team’s two biggest stars played like it in the first two tournaments. Jayson Tatum is averaging 31 points, 7.5 rebounds and eight assists with Jaylen Brown contributing 25 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per contest. Brown had a team-high 27 points on his 28th birthday Thursday.
Tatum took the opportunity to meet one-on-one with 19-year-old Wizard Alexandre Sarr.
“It’s part of when you’re in Year 19 or Year 1, you’re on the court, you treat everybody the same, and that’s how it should be,” Tatum said. “You don’t take anyone for granted. Nobody took me for granted when I was 19.”
The Celtics are in the middle of a one-game stretch where they have played six of seven games on the road.
Detroit dropped its opener 115-109 to the visiting Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, then fell 113-101 on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
Cade Cunningham had 33 points and six assists but also had nine points for Cleveland. In all, the Pistons coughed 22 times.
“When you turn over a good basketball team, you just get blanks,” Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff said. “Twenty-two empty clothes are hard to beat.”
When Detroit didn’t pass the ball, he shot a good percentage. The Pistons made 46.9 percent of their field goal attempts, including 40.6 percent from three-point range.
Cunningham did most of his damage inside the arc. He sank 14 of 24 shots overall but was 2 of 6 from long range.
“I think we’re seeing if he can, how he can carry the team,” Bickerstaff said of his star player. “Obviously, we talked to him about swings and he was aware of that, but I thought he had a great game.”
Backcourt mate Jaden Ivey scored 22 points and guard Malik Beasley had 13 off the bench.
The Pistons will need more production from Tobias Harris. He is averaging 11.5 points per game after scoring at a 17.2 clip for the Philadelphia 76ers last season.
–Field Level Media
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