This was like 2 different games: game 1, from the opening tip to about the 1 minute mark in the third quarter, was a close game where the Pistons more or less matched the Celtics basket for basket, culminating with a Cade Cunningham 3 that put the Pistons up 2, 90-88.
At that point, a frustated Ime called a time out. From that point forward was game 2, where the Celtics cranked up their defense and put Detroit away, 26-13 but less close than that. Following the Ime timeout the Celtics ran off an 11-0 run which because a 25-5 run. With 3 minutes left, the Celtics were up 113-95 and that was it. Detroit made it look closer with a 8-1 run in garbage time, but we did see Stauskas score his first point as a Celtic.
This, again, was the kind of game the Celtics would have lost a few months ago, not only because it was close into the 4th, but also because the Celtics stunk from three: 6-32 (18.8%), led by Tatum and Brown combining for 3-17.
Because he wasn't hitting from distance, Tatum didn't have an other-worldly game like his past 2, but he was plenty good, leading the way with 31 points. He shot 13-27 from the field, but 2-9 of that was from three. From 2 he was 11-18. Also did not really get to the line (3-3) was pissed enough about that to pck up a T. But he added 8 rebounds, team-leading 6 assists, and a steal while only having one turnover.
Brown, who has been less effective since twisting his ankle, scored 22 on 8 of 22 shooting from the field, including 1-8 from three. Also 8 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and 3 turnovers to lead the team.
Smart added 20 points on great offensive efficiency, not something usually seen from him. Six of 10 from the field including 203 from three, plus 6-7 at the line. Only 5 assists, but he also led the team with 5 steals and only had one turnover.
Rob had a usual kind of Rob game, 12 points on 5-7 shooting, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block, and did not turn it over. He also, for once, successfully used an offensive move near the basket. Not a particularly difficult one but it is something you don't usually see from him - hopefully a part of his game that will continue to develop. Go to the 45 second mark below.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqaGWBOxkiI
The bench was mostly meh in this one except for Derrick White who scored 11 points, 4 reounds, an assist, a steal and a block against one turnover. Grant was sort of decent by the numbers (in 18 minutes he had 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists vs one turnover, but he was 0-2 from three and seems to be in a bit of a shooting slump).