The Boston Celtics showcased their depth and firepower on Thursday, cruising to a 123-99 win over the Detroit Pistons despite the absence of All-Star Jayson Tatum. Payton Pritchard stepped up with a career night, delivering 27 points, 10 assists, and seven three-pointers to lead Boston’s 12th consecutive victory over Detroit.
Pritchard also reached a career milestone, becoming the 10th Celtic to make 500 three-pointers. “Payton’s been awesome,” said Jaylen Brown, who added 14 points. Derrick White matched Pritchard’s long-range exploits with seven triples of his own, contributing 23 points.
Boston Celtics Stats Highlights:
- Payton Pritchard: 27 points, 10 assists, 7 three-pointers
- Derrick White: 23 points, 7 three-pointers
- Kristaps Porzingis: 19 points
- Luke Kornet: Perfect 5-for-5 from the field, 12 points
The win lifts Boston to 20-5, just one game behind the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers (21-4).
Detroit Pistons Key Performances:
- Ronald Holland: 26 points (off the bench)
- Cade Cunningham: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists
The Pistons struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 7 of 37 three-point attempts and never recovering after trailing in the first quarter.
Heat Rally Past Raptors for Fourth Straight Win
In Miami, the Heat extended their winning streak to four games with a 114-104 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Tyler Herro scored 23 points, and Bam Adebayo added 21 points and 16 rebounds, as Miami overcame an early 16-point deficit.
Toronto’s RJ Barrett recorded a triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, while rookie Gradey Dick shined with 22 points. Despite trade rumors surrounding Jimmy Butler, the Miami star contributed 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Kings Edge Pelicans in Nail-Biter
The Sacramento Kings narrowly held off the New Orleans Pelicans, securing a 111-109 win behind Domantas Sabonis’ massive 32-point, 21-rebound performance. DeMar DeRozan chipped in 29 points as Sacramento withstood a late rally from the Pelicans, led by CJ McCollum’s 36 points.
New Orleans came within two points late in the fourth quarter, but missed opportunities in the final minute allowed Sacramento to escape with the win.
Kings’ Key Stats:
- Domantas Sabonis: 32 points, 21 rebounds
- DeMar DeRozan: 29 points
Pelicans’ Top Performer:
- CJ McCollum: 36 points, including a clutch late-game three-point play.
Thursday night’s action underscored the league’s competitiveness, with standout performances and thrilling finishes across the board.
