AP

Tatum scores 24, leads Celtics to 102-93 win over Pistons

Feb 4, 2022, 4:35 AM | Updated: 7:34 pm

Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) blocks a Detroit Pistons forward Kelly Olynyk (13) s...

Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) blocks a Detroit Pistons forward Kelly Olynyk (13) shot in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)


              Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives on Detroit Pistons guard Cory Joseph (18) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Josh Richardson (8) drives on Detroit Pistons forward Kelly Olynyk (13) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Detroit Pistons guard Cory Joseph (18) fouls Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Detroit Pistons guard Killian Hayes (7) shoots on Boston Celtics guard Josh Richardson (8) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) and Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (28) battle for a rebound in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Dennis Schroder (71) drives on Detroit Pistons guard Rodney McGruder (17) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Dennis Schroder (71) drives on Detroit Pistons guard Hamidou Diallo (6) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) is pressured by Detroit Pistons guard Rodney McGruder (17) and Detroit Pistons guard Hamidou Diallo (6) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots on Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (28) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) blocks a Detroit Pistons forward Kelly Olynyk (13) shot in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

DETROIT (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 24 points in 28 minutes, and the Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to four games with a 102-93 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

Jaylen Brown scored 13 points for the Celtics, who won for the sixth time in seven games. Josh Richardson scored 12 points and Robert Williams had 11 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks for Boston, which never trailed and led by as many as 24 points.

The four-game win streak is the Celtics’ longest of the season.

“I just go back to us being locked in,” Williams said. “We’ve got great scorers, most people on our team can score but when we’re locked in defensively and we cover for each other, I feel like that’s when we’re playing our best.”

Hamidou Diallo had 21 points and 14 rebounds as Detroit wrapped up a four-game homestand and lost for the seventh time in eight games. Saddiq Bey scored 21 points and Jerami Grant added 10 points.

The Pistons were held to 32.7% shooting from the field (34 of 104).

“We’re coming out with the right focus from the start,” Boston coach Ime Udoka said. “We guarded extremely well for most of the game.”

Detroit made 18 of 59 shots in the paint.

“Some of the looks we had inside were in and out. Point-blank layups, point-blank putbacks,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “You can’t explain that.”

Boston held Detroit to a season-low point total in the first half and led 46-31 at the break. The Pistons’ previous first-half low was 37 points against the New York Knicks on Dec. 21.

“We could have kept them in the 20s other than for a few mistakes there,” Udoka said. “We were making it tough on Grant and Bey and some of those guys early. Our carryover is good, our physicality has been there and we’re kind of buying into that defensive mentality and making it hard on times every night.”

Tatum scored 19 points in the third quarter as the Celtics led 78-56 heading into the fourth quarter.

Detroit was playing the second game of a back-to-back after losing to Minnesota on Thursday.

“I think we came out in the first half in a mental fog,” Casey said. “A back-to-back here at home against a superior team and we didn’t approach it the right way.”

TIP INS

Detroit rookie guard Cade Cunningham, the top pick in last year’s draft, missed his second consecutive game due to a right hip pointer. “It’s nothing serious, but we’re going to be cautious with it,” coach Dwane Casey said. “He’s just got to get those muscles in his behind firing the right way and the soreness out.” … The Pistons were also missing guard Josh Jackson (right lumbar spine spasm). … Celtics forward Al Horford was held out in the fourth quarter due to a sore right foot. … The Celtics have won seven of their last nine games on Detroit’s home court. … The teams will play three more times over the next five weeks — in Detroit on Feb. 26 and in Boston on Feb. 16 and March 11.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Visit Orlando Magic on Sunday.

Pistons: Visit Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Tatum scores 24, leads Celtics to 102-93 win over Pistons