Detroit, MI
10 takeaways from the third win against the Detroit Pistons
#1 – Jaylen Brown passing on display
As we’ve noticed in previous games, Jaylen Brown’s passing and post-up volume have increased this year. To score the Boston Celtics’ first basket, we saw a great example of this. Brown used his strength and handle to force his way to the rim, attract defensive attention in the paint, and deliver a beautiful pass to Porzingis, who was wide open beyond the three-point line.
A few minutes later, the Finals MVP provided another example of his improved passing and handling. With a live dribble skip pass from his right hand to the corner, Brown showed that he’s taken a significant step toward becoming a playmaker.
We even witnessed a slick behind-the-back assist to Jrue Holiday for a three-pointer. While Brown’s passing numbers indicate there’s still room for growth, Celtics fans can take pride in seeing him continually add new weapons to his skill set.
#2 – Protecting Payton Pritchard…
The Celtics know a lot about hunting mismatches. However, with Jayson Tatum and Sam Hauser out, Payton Pritchard has had to play more minutes than usual. Teams have started targeting Pritchard, as he’s the smallest player on the Celtics’ roster. But this strategy is harder to execute than teams might think.
First, Pritchard is a tough defensive player. Jrue Holiday once said Pritchard was the toughest guy to attack during Celtics training. His toughness, strong legs, and low center of gravity make him harder to exploit. Nonetheless, the Celtics still aim to protect him, employing some subtle defensive plays to ensure he isn’t targeted.
For example, the Celtics switched off-ball to prevent the Detroit Pistons from isolating him in the post. Usually, the Celtics switch off-ball to keep the roamer (often Porzingis or Queta) as close to the rim as possible. In this case, the approach was reversed, but the goal remained the same: protect the rim and ensure nobody gets hunted.
Sometimes, the Celtics can’t switch Pritchard away. When this happens, they crowd the paint to close driving lanes, making it nearly impossible to attack him effectively.
#3 – …so he can deliver on offense
The Celtics are willing to protect Pritchard at all costs because of what he brings on offense. He delivered another excellent performance, shooting over 60% true shooting on 20 attempts, along with 10 assists.
As usual, his presence on the floor correlated with a strong offensive performance by the team. With him on the court last night, the Celtics posted a 134 offensive rating. Over the last two seasons, the team’s offensive rating has improved by +6 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor (per Cleaning the Glass).
A highlight of his game last night was his playmaking. While some of his assists were simple, he also made impressive reads, such as an alley-oop to Kornet or the pass mentioned above that gave Walsh an open shot. His size will always limit certain passing angles, but his speed and improved court vision suggest his contributions could be even more valuable in the future.
#4 – Second-quarter run
From 37-33 to 59-42, the Celtics created a gap in the second quarter to ensure they could rest their starters early. After a stretch of tough games in a short period, the Celtics capitalized on the opportunity to conserve energy. How did they do it? By sticking to their usual game plan.
Using staggered screens to force mismatches and create gaps, the Celtics generated optimal scoring opportunities. With stacked screens set by Pritchard and Porzingis while Brown handled the ball, the Pistons were trapped. They couldn’t help from the baseline, as Derrick White and Jrue Holiday were stationed in the corners, forcing Detroit to switch.
This resulted in three simultaneous mismatches: Brown against Cade Cunningham, Porzingis overpowering Tobias Harris in the post, and Isaiah Stewart struggling to defend Pritchard on the perimeter. The Celtics could then pick their preferred option and score with ease.
#5 – Transition defense is back?
Last night was a masterclass in transition defense—arguably one of the best performances across the NBA this season. The Celtics not only limited the Pistons’ transition volume but also destroyed their transition efficiency.
They held their opponents to just 50 points per 100 possessions in transition, an impressive feat showcasing the team’s concentration, teamwork, and hustle. Joe Mazzulla must be thrilled with this display.
#6 – Kristaps Porzingis’ gravity and passing are killing defenses
In the modern NBA, players create spacing in various ways, and Porzingis’ approach is unique. One of his underrated skills is passing. With his size, he can operate as a hub and deliver passes over defenders with precision.
On the play above, Brown didn’t need the ball in his hands to be a threat. He cut to the rim around Porzingis, who timed the pass perfectly, generating three easy points from a simple sequence. Another example involved Luke receiving the ball from Porzingis, cutting, and kicking out to the corner—a testament to Porzingis’ ability to see the floor and facilitate.
While his passing volume could increase, the Celtics might be able to develop this aspect of his game, unlocking another tool to collapse defenses.
#7 – No new highlights in the Derrick White vs. Cade Cunningham duel
As Mark Aboyoun noted on CelticsBlog, the ongoing duel between Cade Cunningham and Derrick White has been fascinating. In previous games, Cunningham posterized White, who responded with emphatic blocks.
However, last night’s encounter was relatively quiet, with only this post-up moment standing out. With the Celtics dominating early, fans will have to wait for the next matchup to see this rivalry reignite.
#8 – Boston’s unselfishness
After the game, John-Blair “J.B.” Bickerstaff praised the Celtics, calling them one of the most unselfish teams he’s seen.
Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff said the Celtics are one of the most unselfish teams he’s seen:
“Everybody goes out and they repeat what their stars do. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, those guys could shoot the ball every time they wanted to. But they sacrifice themselves to make the… pic.twitter.com/BkUJOVAA89
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) December 12, 2024
Last night, 73% of Boston’s field goals were assisted. While the Celtics lead the league in isolation volume, their ball movement remains elite. With every player logging over 10 minutes recording an assist, this game highlighted the team’s collective playmaking ability.
#9 – Three-point defense
The Pistons’ three-point efficiency dropped dramatically from 36% to 18% against the Celtics. After two games shooting over 50% from deep (against Boston and New York), Detroit was stifled by Boston’s improved rotations and defensive adjustments.
While early-season noise questioned the Celtics’ defensive capabilities, last night they showcased flashes of the elite defense that defined them last year.
#10 – Drew Peterson on the rise
One emerging storyline is the rise of Drew Peterson. Last night, he logged nearly 20 minutes, earning Joe Mazzulla’s confidence and outpacing Jordan Walsh and Queta in playing time.
Though his game can feel disjointed as he overthinks plays, Peterson demonstrated promising flashes of playmaking. His combination of length and handle makes him a potential connector.
His scoring remains a question mark. While he showed good touch during his NCAA career, his efficiency is limited (54% true shooting). Can he develop into an elite shooter and connector? Time will tell, but the potential is exciting.
Analyzing Ausar Thompson’s development this season
Omari, Bryce, and friend of the pod Laz Jackson talks Ausar Thompson’s developments of offense this year.
- The Pistons’ success can be attributed to their strong defense and team chemistry.
- This season marks a significant turnaround for the Pistons, who had a franchise-worst 14 wins last season.
- Key players like Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren have contributed to the team’s success.
TORONTO — All season, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and the Detroit Pistons have taken a game-by-game approach. They have stacked milestone win after milestone win amid one of the best rebuilding seasons in NBA history, and haven’t taken much time to acknowledge it.
The celebrations, for the most part, have been muted.
“Our guys are focused on night in and night out,” Bickerstaff said on March 28, after his team snapped a 12-game losing streak to the Cleveland Cavaliers to clinch the franchise’s first winning record since 2015-16. It has been a common refrain for him, whenever he’s been asked about the team’s success: “I did not know that was a thing. I don’t know if our guys did or not. Our guys just focus on the task at hand and that’s where we’ve been able to find consistency.”
Friday was different, though. The Pistons (43-34) pulled off their most significant regular-season win in nearly two decades, clinching a top-six playoff seed for the first time since 2008 with a 117-105 road win over the Toronto Raptors.
The magnitude of this moment almost defies description. Last season, the Pistons had a franchise-worst 14 wins, suffered an NBA-record 28-game losing streak and seemingly suffered from an incurable sense of low morale and an unclear vision of when, and how, the team would get back-on-track.
There was no denying it after Friday’s victory, though — it’s an amazing, surreal, accomplishment, and one they took a moment to relish with only five games remaining in the season.
“It’s a big deal for the group,” Bickerstaff said. “I’ll be honest with you. We typically don’t take time to reflect on where we are, but this is an opportunity for this group to reflect on where it is, where it’s come from and what they’ve been able to accomplish together. To turn it around the way that they have, to put themselves in this position to play in the postseason, it’s a big deal.
“Whatever it is that we’ve asked them to do, they just go out there and try to get it done. Finding the consistency, the belief in one another. It’s a big deal for this group for sure.”
This is, perhaps, the Pistons team that has embraced the franchise’s blue-collar attitude in recent memory. Their strong chemistry has been evident since early in the season. They’ve become devoted to physical play. Since Jan. 1, they’ve been a top-three defensive team. All the core tenants of every great Pistons team has been present in this group.
They have a long road ahead to live up to the Bad Boys and Goin’ To Work eras, though.
And they know it, as Jalen Duren said after Friday’s win.
“It’s just grit,” he said. “We say grit all the time, we say togetherness, we’ve got a lot of key words that built our culture from day one that we say every time we break the huddle. I feel like we just locked in on those and got us to this point. We’re not done yet. We’re going to take a moment to enjoy what we accomplished, but it’s so many milestones and the real goal is obviously to bring a championship back to the city. It’s a milestone. First step.”
Malik Beasley called this group’s potential early in the season. After they fell to 0-3 with a loss to the Boston Celtics on Oct. 26, the well-traveled guard, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason, said the team was “right there” as far as figuring out how to consistently win games.
The season began to turn around in December. After falling to 11-17 in mid-December, the Pistons won three consecutive road games out west (over the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings). They went on to win eight of nine, and 10 of 12, to pull two games above .500 (21-19) with a road win over the New York Knicks.
Beasley and the team’s other veterans — Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Paul Reed — have given this team a higher floor. Cade Cunningham’s leap to superstardom, along with Bickerstaff’s Coach of the Year-caliber work and improvements from the rest of the young core, have enabled this group to surpass all expectations.
“I’ve been on lots of teams on both ends of the spectrum,” Beasley said on Oct. 26. “Championship teams, growing and building teams. My main role is to show the guys every day that if we got the win tonight, it matters but we’ve got a lot of work to do. Rome wasn’t built in one day. I just look to continue to keep building.
“It might seem like we’re 0-3, but I feel like we’re right there. I’m not just saying that because I’m here. I’ve been through struggles in the NBA, and we’re right there. The chemistry is really good, the camaraderie is really good, we still have a lot of energy.”
The Pistons are playoff-bound. The goal posts will now shift toward winning a championship — the ultimate goal of any franchise. It no longer seems like a pipe dream.
“Coach has done a great job with us,” Beasley said Friday. “For some reason, whatever happened in Cleveland, we’re thankful for that because it gave him an opportunity to help us out. Everything happens for a reason. I could’ve signed back in Milwaukee, Tim did it in Dallas. Everything happens for a reason.
“It’s given me vibes of like an OKC, Cleveland team. The NBA is turning back to full teams. We’ve got one superstar on our team. That’s the type of basketball that we love and have each other’s back, and that’s what we’re doing.”
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At the start of the 2024-25 NHL season, some predicted that the Detroit Red Wings — with one of the proudest histories among the league’s 32 clubs — would make their triumphant return to the postseason field.
Although they remain mathematically in the race with less than two weeks to go, their chances are getting slimmer by the day.
Friday night, they’ll host the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+), with a chance to inch their way closer to the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers, who have been ping-ponging the final wild-card spot back and forth in recent days.
As the games get underway, the Red Wings’ 75 points are six behind both the Canadiens, and their 26 regulation wins are tied with Montreal.
Things only get harder for Dylan Larkin & Co. after the game against the Canes. Their remaining schedule features only games against teams currently in playoff position: the Florida Panthers twice, Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs. Perhaps the teams that have clinched a playoff berth will take a proverbial foot off the gas pedal, but this is not exactly an ideal closing schedule for a team on the outside looking in on the playoffs.
But if the Red Wings are going to make a run, a win on Friday will go a long way (at least emotionally) to rally support. Can they do it?
With the regular season ending April 17, we’ll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Yesterday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Friday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Carolina Hurricanes at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu/NHLN)
Minnesota Wild at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday’s scoreboard
Montreal Canadiens 4, Boston Bruins 1
Ottawa Senators 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 1
Colorado Avalanche 7, Columbus Blue Jackets 3
St. Louis Blues 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 4 (OT)
Dallas Stars 5, Nashville Predators 1
Los Angeles Kings 4, Utah Hockey Club 2
Calgary Flames 4, Anaheim Ducks 1
Winnipeg Jets 4, Vegas Golden Knights 0
Edmonton Oilers 3, San Jose Sharks 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 105.0
Next game: vs. CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 101.7
Next game: @ BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 100.6
Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 94.0
Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 98.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 88.6
Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 42.1%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 2.7%
Tragic number: 11
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 77.6
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 6
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 74.4
Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 1
Metro Division
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 114.8
Next game: vs. CHI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 106.4
Next game: @ DET (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 93.9
Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 86.4
Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 26.8%
Tragic number: 13
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 85.3
Next game: @ TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 27.4%
Tragic number: 13
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 82.0
Next game: vs. MIN (Friday)
Playoff chances: 2.8%
Tragic number: 10
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 77.7
Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 76.6
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 3
Central Division
Points: 108
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 116.5
Next game: @ UTA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 113.7
Next game: vs. PIT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 104.4
Next game: @ STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 96.9
Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 97.8%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 96.0
Next game: @ NYI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 94.8%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 86.3
Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 66.9
Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 56.9
Next game: @ WSH (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 107.2
Next game: @ CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 103.9
Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 101.7
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 91.8
Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 5.9%
Tragic number: 10
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 88.6
Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.8%
Tragic number: 7
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 80.9
Next game: @ ANA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 75.5
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 54.7
Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Note: An “x” means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An “e” means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
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