Without Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard dazzles in 24-point Celtics romp of Pistons

Defending champion Boston rebounded from a rare home loss and asserted mastery over the Detroit Pistons, who the Celtics have beaten for the 12th straight time.

The Boston Celtics are now 2-0 this season without Jayson Tatum, with those wins coming against the Detroit Pistons. | Photo: Boston Celtics

Twice superstar Jason Tatum sat out for the Boston Celtics this season and twice the reigning champions found a way to win.

Payton Pritchard dazzled with a 27-point, 10-assist double-double in a resounding Celtics bounce-back victory at the expense of the Detroit Pistons, 123-99, on Friday, December 13.

Back on track ?#DifferentHere
pic.twitter.com/DDiJbQTUBx
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 13, 2024

Playing without Tatum (right knee tendinopathy), Derrick White added 23 markers and seven triples, while Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 19 more as Boston returned to winning four days after a 127-121 loss against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Celtics basketball 🫡
pic.twitter.com/1YOIRXoYUM
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 13, 2024

Reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday put up a combined 26 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists for the reigning champ's third victory of the season already against the Pistons.

Jaylen Brown finishes through contact 💪

DET-BOS | 3Q | NBA TV & NBA League Pass
📲 https://t.co/jXriHswDEg
pic.twitter.com/77yxIdHeEv
— NBA (@NBA) December 13, 2024

The Celtics led by as many as points and became the second team to reach 20 wins this season after the NBA-best Cleveland Cavaliers (21-4).

Meanwhile, Ron Holland paced the Pistons brigade with 26 markers while Cade Cunningham had 18 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in a losing effort.

Cunningham was coming off a triple-double outing of 29 markers, 15 dimes, and 10 boards in Detroit’s 120-11 victory over the New York Knicks in their last outing.

With the loss, the Pistons dropped to 10-16 and are still searching for their first dub against the Celtics since 2022.

Without Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard dazzles in 24-point Celtics romp of Pistons

Defending champion Boston rebounded from a rare home loss and asserted mastery over the Detroit Pistons, who the Celtics have beaten for the 12th straight time.

Coast-to-Coast: Cavs cool off Thunder in battle of conference leaders; Pistons win fifth straight

For the second time this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers won 11 straight games while improving to 11-0 against Western Conference foes.

Without Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard dazzles in 24-point Celtics romp of Pistons

Defending champion Boston rebounded from a rare home loss and asserted mastery over the Detroit Pistons, who the Celtics have beaten for the 12th straight time.

Coast-to-Coast: Cavs cool off Thunder in battle of conference leaders; Pistons win fifth straight

For the second time this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers won 11 straight games while improving to 11-0 against Western Conference foes.

Coast-to-Coast: Raptors complete 21-point comeback; LeBron goes no. 7 in all-time steals

The New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets kicked off the NBA Rivals Week on a commanding note.

Nikola Jokic drops fourth straight trip-dub in 35-point Nuggets drubbing of skidding Sixers

Overall, the Serbian superstar's league-leading 19th triple-double is more than the combined output of Cade Cunningham (8) and LeBron James (7) this season.

Mikal Bridges makes triumphant Brooklyn return as Knicks avert Nets upset axe

Karl-Anthony Towns secured yet another double-double, as the New York Knicks asserted mastery over the skidding Brooklyn Nets in the ‘Battle of the Boroughs.”