BOSTON Celtics clawed back from a double-digit deficit to frustrate the skidding Detroit Pistons in overtime, 128-122, in the 2023-2024 NBA Season on Thursday night (Friday in the Philippines) at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Down by as much as 21 points in the first half, the Celtics slowly clawed their way back in the contest in the second half en route to forcing an overtime period with the score tied at 108-all.
The Pistons took a 115-113 edge in the overtime period on five straight points by Jaden Ivey, but the Celtics answered with connections from Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Kristapz Porzingis to secure a come-from-behind win.
Porzingis top-scored with 35 points, including three three-point conversions, while Jayson Tatum fell short of a triple-double after ending up with 31 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds to go with five steals for Boston.
White chipped in 23 points, five assists, four rebounds and two blocks, while Holiday ended with 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists as Boston remained on top in the East with a 24-6 record.
Cade Cunningham tallied 31 points, nine assists and six rebounds; Ivey had a double-double of 22 points and 10 assists; while Bojan Bogdanovic, Jalen Duren and Alec Burks ended with 17, 15 and 12, respectively.
After dropping to a 2-29 win-loss slate, the Pistons have extended the league-record for consecutive defeats in a single NBA season to 28 games.
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokić had a perfect triple-double game as defending champions Denver Nuggets (22-10) scored a lopsided 142-105 victory over Memphis Grizzlies (10-19) at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
The former NBA MVP finished with 26 points, on a perfect 11-of-11 field goal shooting and 3-of-3 from the free throw area, before completing his triple-double with 14 rebounds and 10 assists.
Jamal Murray added 23 points, including four three-pointers, to go with nine assists, Peyton Watson chipped in 20 markers, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Julian Strawther ended with 12 points each for Denver./PN
BOX SCORE:
BOSTON 128 – Porzingis 35, Tatum 31, White 23, Holiday 12, Pritchard 9, Horford 8, Queta 5, Hauser 5, Brissett 0.
DETROIT 122 – Cunningham 31, Ivey 22, Bogdanovic 17, Duren 15, Burks 12, Livers 9, Knox 6, Wiseman 6, Thompson 2, Hayes 2.
Quarterscores: 27-30, 47-66, 82-82, 108-108, 128-122.
