Follow usPayton Pritchard scored 27 points and hit seven 3-pointers as the Boston Celtics cruised past the Detroit Pistons 123-99 on Thursday night, marking their 20th win of the season.
Pritchard’s performance, highlighted by his 500th career 3-pointer, bolstered his candidacy for Sixth Man of the Year. Derrick White added 23 points and matched Pritchard’s seven 3s, as Boston sank 20 from beyond the arc and stretched their lead to as many as 32 points in the fourth quarter. Six Celtics scored in double figures during the dominant win.
Shooting star 🌠
Tonight’s @Gatorade Player of the Game stayed hot pic.twitter.com/2ju3WXZ7TZ
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 13, 2024
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 18 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, but Detroit struggled mightily from deep, shooting just 7 of 37 from the 3-point line, including 2 of 19 in the first half.
Boston played without All-Star Jayson Tatum, who rested due to a sore right knee, and Sam Hauser, sidelined with a strained abdominal muscle. Coach Joe Mazzulla downplayed the seriousness of Tatum’s knee issue.
The Celtics outscored the Pistons 34-24 in the third quarter to turn a 15-point halftime lead into a 93-68 advantage heading into the final frame.
Up next, the Pistons will host the Miami Heat on Monday, while the Celtics travel to face the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
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