DETROIT Pistons stretched its winning streak to eight games after taking down reigning champions Boston Celtics, 117-97, in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season on Wednesday night (Thursday in the Philippines) at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
Malik Beasley came off the bench to deliver a team-high of 26 points, including six three-point conversions, to go with five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and a block as the Pistons improved to a 33-26 win-loss card.
Cade Cunningham added a double-double of 21 markers and 11 assists, Tobias Harris tossed in 16 points while grabbing nine rebounds, and Jalen Duren tallied 13 points and 11 rebounds for Detroit.
After a 55-all score at the half, the Pistons started to pull away in the third quarter behind three-point conversions from Cunningham and Beasley and inside hits from Duren for a 90-79 advantage.
Beasley took advantage of the Celtics’ three turnovers to start the fourth period by knocking down three-pointers to increase the Pistons’ lead to 106-87 on a Cunningham basket.
Detroit now has its longest winning streak in 17 years. The last time the Pistons won eight or more consecutive games came in 2008, when they strung together 10 victories from Jan. 23-Feb. 13.
Jayson Tatum finished with 27 points, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard had 18 points apiece, while Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 11 points as they dropped to a 42-17 mark.
Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner hit a combined 12 of 14 from three-point range as Indiana Pacers (33-24) avoid a season sweep against the Toronto Raptors (18-41) with a 111-91 rout in Indianapolis.
Haliburton went 12 of 15 from the field, including his 7-of-9 showing from beyond the arc, for 33 points. Turner shot 6 of 8 and made all five of his attempts from behind the arc to end up with 18 markers.
RJ Barrett, who top-scored in two Toronto wins over the Pacers earlier this season, was limited to 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting, while Jonathan Mogbo, scored 16 points off the bench./PN
BOX SCORE:
DETROIT 117 — Beasley 26, Cunningham 21, Harris 16, Duren 13, Hardaway 9, Sasser 8, Holland 8, Thompson 7, Stewart 4, Waters 3, Reed 2, Klintman 0, Jenkins 0.
BOSTON 97 — Tatum 27, White 18, Pritchard 18, Porzingis 11, Horford 9, Holiday 4, Hauser 3, Peterson 3, Davison 3, Scheierman 1, Walsh 0, Queta 0, Tillman 0.
Quarterscores: 29-20, 55-55, 90-79, 117-97.
