Only one night time after taking the Milwaukee Bucks to additional time whereas absent 4 of their starters, the Boston Celtics returned to the courtroom a little bit bit more healthy. Jayson Tatum, Marcus Sensible and Al Horford returned to the lineup, and the Celtics entered the All-Star break with a win, downing the Detroit Pistons 127-109.
Tatum entered the All-Star Break on a robust observe, pacing the group with a 38-9-7 stat line (six made threes). Supporting him was a hyper-efficient efficiency from Brogdon, who added 25 factors on 10-of-15 capturing. For the Pistons, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 28 factors on 12-of-17 capturing and Isaiah Stewart knocked in 4 three-pointers, however a robust third quarter effort wasn’t sufficient to place an upset into play.
Within the first half, the distinction between these groups was pretty simple: one group made their threes, one group didn’t. Whereas the Pistons scuffled from vary, capturing simply 5-of-16, the Celtics couldn’t miss. As a group, they linked on 50% of their three-point makes an attempt (12-of-24), together with 4 from Brogdon, who led the group with 18 factors on the break. They jumped on Detroit early and held down the accelerator for the complete half, main 66-51 on the halftime break.
Sensible made his return to the Boston lineup after an 11-game absence with a bone bruise in his ankle, and he made his presence recognized in the one method he is aware of how. He was in every single place on each ends of the courtroom, orchestrating the Celtics’ offense whereas wrecking Detroit’s. For the sport, he posted a fully ludicrous — and very Marcus Sensible-like — stat line of 9 factors, seven rebounds, six assists and 6 steals.
In step with custom, as play resumed, the Pistons inched themselves again into competitiveness. After a pair fast Celtics baskets to open the third quarter, Detroit went on a 15-6 run to chop the Boston lead again right down to 10 factors and immediate a timeout from Joe Mazzulla. Regardless of the stellar play of Tatum, the Pistons continued to realize floor, and a few frustration appeared to seep into the Celtics’ recreation. A free ball foul on Luke Kornet led to free throws for the Pistons that lower the Boston result in 5 with below three minutes remaining within the third.
Tatum wouldn’t be denied, nevertheless. He scored 24 factors within the third quarter, and his three-point tirade rapidly reestablished the Celtics’ management on the sport. The Celtics led 97-89 on the finish of the third quarter, and restored their result in double figures as play resumed within the fourth. The Pistons wouldn’t draw inside single-digits once more, and the Celtics entered the break with a document of 42-17.
Subsequent up, the Celtics will get pleasure from a mini-vacation, with everybody (Tatum however) taking per week off through the NBA’s All-Star Break. They’ll be again on February 23 in Indiana for a 7 PM matchup with the Pacers on NBC Sports activities Boston.