The surprisingly Detroit carpets will try to do something on Wednesday that they have not achieved in 17 years. They will look to stretch their winning line to eight matches when they host the defending champion Boston Celtics.
Last time Detroit won eight or more consecutive matches came in 2008, when it tightened 10 wins from January 23-Feb. 13.
The pistons reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth straight time that season and lost for any champion Celtics.
Detroit published Back-to-back victories in very different ways on Sunday and Monday. The pistons won an offensive showdown in Atlanta, 148-143, and then relied on a solid defensive effort to defeat Los Angeles Clippers, 106-97.
“It took barley. It wasn’t easy,” said coach JB Bickerstaff. “I think both teams came in a little tired. The style of basketball they play is rough, robust and physical – a lot of hands, a lot of grip and holding. So it will not be easy for us.”
That game started a four-game at home for the pistons. They will also meet Denver on Friday and Brooklyn on Saturday before going out on a four-match road trip.
“I know how much this team means to this city when our guys play at the level they play,” Bickerstaff said. “They don’t do it for themselves. We need our fans. We love it when they are in the building. They have their backs. It just gives another vibe to the group because we want to make them happy.”
No one makes them happier than All-Star Cade Cunningham, which is on average career heights in points (25.8 per match), assists (9.5) and rebounds (6.3). Cunningham believes that Bickerstaff, who replaced Monty Williams after he was dismissed by Cleveland after last season, deserves a lot of credit for Franchiseturn.
“I think he’s coach of the year,” Cunningham said. “The things he has done, how prepared we have been, I am not surprised that we have won so many matches. We feel more prepared than other teams.”
Boston will play the second game in back-to-back. Celtics gathered its sixth victory in a row by defeating Toronto, 111-101.
Jaylen Brown led the road with 24 points, Derrick White delivered 22 and Payton Pritchard contributed 20 from the bench.
Pritchard has reached the 20-point mark in four of its last seven matches.
“He is really well rounded where he can score on all three levels,” said head coach Joe Mazzulla. “He can do it in the transition, he can do it in Half Court, he can do it outside offensive returns and he can create his own shot.”
Celtics did not have two of its starters because Jrue Holiday was rested and Kristaps Porzingis was a late scratch due to illness. Reserve Big Man Al Horford (Left Big Toe Sprain) also sat out but all three are expected to play on Wednesday.
“He is not feeling well and at the same time we wanted to make sure we have him for tomorrow,” Mazzulla said of Porzingis. “We made all the decisions together, just as a team, that it would be best if we make sure we have him tomorrow.”
Celtics will aim for a four-game series Svep. They won the first three meetings of the season over the pistons.
-Field level media
