Boston — Derrick White recorded his first career triple-double, Jaylen Brown scored 31 points in three quarters, and the NBA-best
Boston Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons 119-94 on Monday night.
Due to a right ankle injury, Boston standout Jayson Tatum was unable to play, but the Celtics had plenty of other players to cover for
his loss. Tatum leads the team in scoring (27.1 points per game) and rebounds (8.3).
White finished with 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 22 points. With 6:25 remaining, he passed to Payton Pritchard, who made a 3-pointer
to finish his triple-double.
In the sixth consecutive victory for the Celtics, Pritchard scored 23 points.
Following a five-game absence due to a strained right hamstring, Boston forward Kristaps Porzingis made his return. In 22 minutes,
he scored 20 points and pulled down 8 rebounds.
Jaden Ivey scored 21 points to lead Detroit. Averaging a team-high 22.2 points per game, Cade Cunningham took a break to treat a left
knee ailment.
In addition, reserve forward Al Horford and starting guard Jrue Holiday (bruised right shoulder) were out from Boston’s game. This
season, the 37-year-old Horford hasn’t participated in back-to-back games.
Halfway through the second quarter, Brown’s 3-pointer gave the Celtics a 47-37 lead. They led by 61 points at halftime.
The moment Pritchard made a brilliant behind-the-back pass to Xavier Tillman for a fast-break layup, the crowd let out one of the
loudest roars of the game. Later in the third quarter, with Brown having fouled out after driving to the hoop and forcing a three-point
play, the score was 88-66.
The NBA fined Detroit Pistons guard Evan Fournier $25,000 for kicking the ball into the crowd.
Miami defeated Detroit 104-101 on Saturday despite a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Bam Adebayo. The game ball was then punted into
the Little Caesars Arena bleachers by the 31-year-old Fournier.
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