Derrick White recorded his first career triple-double, Jaylen Brown scored 31 points in three quarters, and the NBA-best Boston Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons 119-94 on Monday night.
Due to a right ankle injury, Boston standout Jayson Tatum was unable to play, but the Celtics had plenty of other players to cover for his loss. Tatum leads the team in scoring (27.1 points per game) and rebounds (8.3).
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White finished with 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 22 points. With 6:25 remaining, he passed to Payton Pritchard, who made a 3-pointer to finish his triple-double.
In the sixth consecutive victory for the Celtics, Pritchard scored 23 points.
Following a five-game absence due to a strained right hamstring, Boston forward Kristaps Porzingis made his return. In 22 minutes, he scored 20 points and pulled down 8 rebounds.
Jaden Ivey scored 21 points to lead Detroit. Averaging a team-high 22.2 points per game, Cade Cunningham took a break to treat a left knee ailment.
In addition, reserve forward Al Horford and starting guard Jrue Holiday (bruised right shoulder) were out from Boston’s game. This season, the 37-year-old Horford hasn’t participated in back-to-back games.
Halfway through the second quarter, Brown’s 3-pointer gave the Celtics a 47-37 lead. They led by 61 points at halftime.
The moment Pritchard made a brilliant behind-the-back pass to Xavier Tillman for a fast-break layup, the crowd let out one of the loudest roars of the game. Later in the third quarter, with Brown having fouled out after driving to the hoop and forcing a three-point play, the score was 88-66.