Tobias Harris scored 25 points and the Detroit Pistons survived a frantic finish, edging the Boston Celtics 104-103 on Monday night in a matchup between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
Jalen Duren added 18 points and nine rebounds, Cade Cunningham finished with 16 points and 14 assists, and Duncan Robinson scored 15 for Detroit (31-10), which leads the Central Division. The Pistons held on after Jaylen Brown’s jumper from the right wing missed just before the final buzzer.
Brown led all scorers with 32 points on 11-of-28 shooting for Boston (26-16), which sits atop the Atlantic Division. Earlier in the day, Brown and Cunningham were both named All-Star starters for the first time.
The game was tight throughout. Detroit entered the fourth quarter with an 84-82 lead after 11 ties and five lead changes, and neither team was able to create much separation in the final 12 minutes. Robinson’s fifth 3-pointer pushed the Pistons ahead by five midway through the quarter, but Boston quickly answered.
Brown hit a go-ahead basket with 3:20 remaining before Harris drilled a 3-pointer to put Detroit back in front, 99-97. Brown missed two free throws with 1:58 left, then converted a runner with 45 seconds remaining to pull the Celtics within one.
After Cunningham missed a jumper with five seconds to go, Boston had one final chance. Brown got a clean look from the wing, but the shot rimmed out as time expired.
Payton Pritchard scored 17 points and Sam Hauser added 16 for Boston, while Luka Garza chipped in 10 despite battling foul trouble.
Up next:
The Celtics host Indiana on Wednesday, while the Pistons visit New Orleans the same night.
