The Celtics battled hard for 48-minute against the Pistons tonight. Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell them the game went on for 53.
A thin depth chart and late-game offensive stagnation led to a 105-97 home loss to Detroit. The Pistons started OT on a 7-0 run and the Cs were outscored 17-9 in the extra frame, ultimately costing themselves an opportunity to gain ground in the increasingly tight race for the final few playoff spots in the east.
With Marcus Smart serving his one game suspension and Isaiah Thomas sitting for a seventh straight game, the Cs offense predictably struggled to find consistency. The Cs trailed 26-23 after one quarter but then clamped down defensively and rode Jae Crowder -12 second quarter points- to take a 47-41 lead into the half.
With Evan Turner orchestrating at the point, the Celtics’ ball movement led to a string of four straight, third-quarter 3s and a game-high 65-55 lead.
The Cs spent the rest of the third quarter sending Andre Drummond to the free throw line, and as Jackie MacMullan pointed out on the broadcast, it took the Cs out of their offensive rhythm. Detroit cut its deficit to 69-63 going into the fourth.
With Turner on the bench, the Cs liberally turned the ball over to start the fourth as the Pistons would claw back to take a one point led, 79-78 midway through the final frame.
After a pretty alley-oop from Turner to Brandon Bass put the Cs up 85-81 with 1:54 left, the Pistons scored the next five points, including a corner three-pointer from old friend Tayshaun Prince, which put the Pistons up 86-85 with 1:15 remaining.
Crowder came out of a timeout with a strong and-one drive to the rim giving the Celtics a two-point lead, but Reggie Jackson answered with a bucket of his own knotting things up at 88.
The Cs final offensive possession of regulation harkened back to the Cs February win over the Hawks, as Stevens allowed Turner to try and create space for a game-winner. Instead, Turner lost control of the ball, unable to get a shot up, forcing overtime.
The Pistons raced out in overtime and held a five-point lead with three minutes left when Kenatvious Caldwell-Pope drilled a three, putting Detroit up 8 and the game out of reach for the Cs.
As of the time of this post, the Cs are still in the eighth playoff spot, but a Hornets W against the T-Wolves will drop them back into 9th.
The Green
Down their two primary point guards, the Celts got a great performance at the point from Turner. In 39 minute, ET was 10-21 from the field for 23 points and chipped in 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.
Jae Crowder was primarily responsible for the Cs solid second quarter and finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds in 45 minutes.
Gerald Wallace hustled his ass off in 13-minutes, collecting 8 rebounds.
The Gross
With plenty of time elapsed to shake off the post-injury rust, Kelly Olynyk continues to miss his shots offensively and look a step slow rotating defensively. He finished 1-9 with 4 points.
Marcus Smart. Would the Cs have gone to overtime with the Pistons if Smart weren’t serving a one-game suspension for attacking Matt Bonner’s manhood on Friday? Probably not. No need to burry him even more with the hindsight of the Cs close loss, but his absence was clearly felt.
The Greenlights
Wallace hits the boards and gets the basket
Turner to Bass alley oop
Crowder and-1
The Grid
The Cs hack-a-Drummond strategy was supported by his per-usual ghastly numbers at the line: 2-11.
The Celts put up 16 more field goals than Detroit: 105-89, but shot just 36%.
The Cs out-rebounded the Drummond-led Pistons 59-56.
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