Tatum plus Brown, the couple does not break out: so Boston was saved in Detroit

With two stars like this, Boston can truly dream. Jayson Tatum in the first half and Jaylen Brown in the second half (with the help of the bench) make the difference for the Celtics in Detroit, where Udoka’s team hitting the 13th victory in their last 15 games. The final 113-104 tells of a more complicated than expected success against a team that thinks more about the future than the present, but with a desire to fight and commitment, Boston has confirmed to be one of the most fit teams in the East. With something more in the sights than the 6th place it currently occupies.

the keys

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Boston (36-26) won because he brought out talent when it mattered most. The Celtics weren’t exceptional, with the three-quarters attack engulfed against one of the NBA’s worst defenses, but the fourth quarter gear shift is a consequence of this team’s valor. Tatum (26 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists)) and Brown (27 points of which 9 in the last quarter) are the pillars of a group that after the uncertainties of the beginning of the season has learned to play by heart, with defense as winning weapon and the two stars as solvers. In addition to Tatum and Brown, Payton Pritchard, fundamental for the turning point of the fourth period, has slipped 10 of his 19 points in the last 12 ‘helping to unlock the host attack. Both Marcus Smart (7 points and 7 assists but 2/7 shooting) and Derrick White (3 points in 20 ‘) undertone and their pass has long been a problem. Detroit (14-46) cherished the dream of a third straight win (it would be the longest streak of the season) before surrendering to Celtics talent. The good news for coach Casey is once again Cade Cunningham, definitely the best of the Pistons with 25 points and 7 rebounds despite the problems of fouls that slowed him down. The rest of the team progressively died in the fourth period, with the aggravating circumstance of the injury to his left ankle that took away Marvin Bagley III when the long man who arrived at the beginning of the month from Sacramento was becoming a factor (14 points and 4 rebounds in 18 ‘). For Detroit, however, this is a lesson: the Pistons are working to grow and defeats like this are just for that.

the match

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Tatum shines in the first half (17 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists), but Boston fails to shake off Detroit, thanks to the attack limited to 42.9% shooting, and arrives at the 56-54 range ahead. Cunningham levels up in the third quarter (9 points in the period) and leads the Pistons, who arrive at the third siren ahead 82-78. When the Celtics change gears, however, the hosts are no longer able to keep up with them: the guests put in a 15-2 run that Tatum closes with a triple of 100-90 and, with 5’20 “on the clock, the match virtually goes to archive despite Detroit trying to the end to make it interesting. Detroit: Cunningham 25 (10/13 from two, 1/6 from three, 2/3 free throws), Joseph 15, Bagley 14. Rebounds: Stewart 10. Assists: Hayes 4. Boston: Brown 27 (9/18, 1 / 6, 6/6 tl), Tatum 26, Pritchard 19. Rebounds: Tatum 11. Assists: Smart 7.