The Boston Celtics have been the best team in the NBA throughout the 2023-24 regular season, sitting in first place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 53-14 entering Monday’s contest with the Detroit Pistons. That record now sits at 54-14, as Boston defeated Detroit 119-94.
It was a dominant showing by the Celtics, who were without their NBA All-Star, Jayson Tatum. Tatum was sidelined because of a right ankle injury, the fourth time that he has missed a game this season. He is leading the team with 27.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game this season, placing himself in the running for the NBA MVP award.
However, it would be fair to wonder if this was something that Boston had planned for. Along with Tatum, starting point guard Jrue Holiday was also sidelined, as the Celtics seemed to be taking advantage of a soft spot in their schedule to get some of their regulars a rest.
In their previous game, against the Washington Wizards on Sunday, the Celtics sat their other three starters; Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown. Porzingis was dealing with a strained hamstring, while White had a sprained hand and Brown had a sprained right ankle.
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All three players were back in the lineup on Monday. White recorded the first triple-double of his career, while Brown and Porzingis combined for 51 points. Against bottom feeders in the standings, and on a back-to-back set, the Celtics were able to not only get two victories but find rest for their players as well.
It doesn’t sound like any of these injuries, especially Tatum’s will be long-term for the Celtics to deal with. More than likely, they just wanted to ensure that everyone was healthy and they had all hands on deck for a huge game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.
That will be the third of four meetings between who many believe to be the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. Each team has won once thus far this season, with both picking up victories on their home court.
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