The Detroit Pistons made a valiant comeback attempt, but fell to the Celtics 102- 95.
The Pistons’ first half performance was one of the more frustrating of the season. The Celtics took an 11 point lead after the first quarter, one night after playing the Raptors on the road. Detroit was able to cut the lead to 12 midway through the third quarter, but the Celtics’ bench ballooned the lead to 18 entering the fourth. However, the Pistons cut the lead to 97-90 with 1:59 left after a 12-3 run. Detroit’s offense would then sputter, as Boston’s Marcus Smart hit a three to expand the lead to 10 with 58 seconds left. The loss means that Detroit will split the season series with the Celtics. Detroit is now just 26-24 and is dangerously close to falling out of the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference.