Celtics win streak ends at 9 as they fall to NBA's last place Pistons 112-111
Derrick White started for the injured Marcus Smart, which left the Boston bench further depleted, since Grant Williams was already starting for the injured Robert Williams. Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith, and Payton Pritchard were the only three Celtics that got off the bench. Derrick White made a nice steal in the final seconds to give Boston one last shot, but Jayson Tatum missed a fadeaway jumper.
Jaylen Brown scored a game high 31 points while Jayson Tatum and Al Horford pitched in with 22 and 19 respectively in the loss. Jerami Grant led the Pistons with 24 points in their winning effort.
The Pistons improve to a record of 13-45, while Boston falls to 34-26. The Celtics will next play on Thursday the 24th when they head to Brooklyn to kick off the final twenty games of the regular season.
Hopefully they will use tonight as one more reminder that they can't mail it in from the start versus anyone. And also hopefully Brad Stevens is able to add one more solid player in the next 8 days, because injuries are a part of the game and the Celtics quality depth is woefully thin right now.
Not sure why Tatum settled for a jumper, could have tried to draw a foul.
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) February 17, 2022
Celtics shot 54 percent from field and 40 percent from 3 and it wasn't enough against the worst team in the NBA, after they shot 53 percent from 3.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) February 17, 2022