During the Wednesday night NBA slate, the Boston Celtics coasted to a 127-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons, fueled by 38 points from Jayson Tatum.
Al Horford contributed 11 points and seven rebounds to Boston’s winning effort. Malcolm Brogdon scored 25 points off the bench. A total of 11 points and six assists were recorded by Derrick White.
Marcus Smart returned after missing nine games because of a sprained right ankle to contribute nine points, seven rebounds, six assists, and six steals.
“We missed a lot,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We missed his joy. He brought a level of joy into the game.”
The Celtics enter the break having won five of their last six games, integral to their 42-17 record. On Thursday, they will play Chicago in their last game before All-Star Weekend. They are one game ahead of second place Milwaukee, which has won 11 straight games.
“All things considered, everything that we’ve went through this season as a team with coaching changes and guys getting injured, missing games and being in and out of the lineup. … Overall, it’s been a hell of a start,” Tatum said.
NBA SCORES & NEWS: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics & Detroit Pistons Updates
During the third quarter, Detroit narrowed a 19-point deficit to five. Tatum, however, scored 24 points in the third period to give the Celtics an eight-point lead heading into the fourth. The lead was back up to 19 with 4:29 left in the game.
The Pistons were led by Bojan Bogdanovic’s 28 points and five rebounds. A 14-point contribution came from Isaiah Stewart. Five of Detroit’s six previous games have ended in defeat.
With Tatum and Jaylen Brown out due to facial fractures, as well as Smart and Horford suffering right knee swelling, the Celtics’ lead in the East was cut to a half-game after they lost in overtime to Milwaukee Tuesday. Smart, Tatum, and Horford returned to the court on Wednesday. A hit against the Bucks caused a hole in White’s right eardrum, and he played despite that.
NBA SCORES & NEWS: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics & Detroit Pistons Updates
A Pistons team that turned the ball over nine times in the first 24 minutes was overwhelmed by the extra personnel as the Celtics took an 18-point lead into halftime. Smart stole four of them.
After being traded from Golden State to Detroit, James Wiseman made his debut for the Pistons. He totaled 11 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes of action.
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