Final: Celtics 118, Pistons 110 - Al Horford (17 points, 14 rebounds) nearly has triple double

Not the greatest of fourth quarters, but the Celtics managed to finish the stretch before the All-Star break with a solid all-around win over the Pistons without Kyrie Irving, Terry Rozier and Aron Baynes.

Al Horford came two assists shy of a triple-double with 17 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. Celtics had six players in double figures, including Marcus Smart, who finished hitting four of his final five 3s after missing 20 in a row.

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• Unless the Celtics have a Clippers-like implosion, this one is over.


• Reggie Jackson from 3, which forces Stevens to take a timeout.


• Ok, now this is uncomfortable as a 3 and then a turnover makes it a 10-point Celtics lead and Stevens just let it keep going. No timeouts from him.


• A Horford 3 ends the drought.


• And then Morris gets one.

• The refs have spent more time watching the monitor than calling fouls tonight.

• Smart and Morris back in to start second half.


• Smart nails a big 3. He had been 0 for 4 from 3.


• Morris nice postup with a mismatch ... and 1.

• Tatum from 3 and the Celtics now have their largest lead at 14 points.


• Smart has made his last four 3-point attempts (20 going back a few games) as the Celtics take major control.

• Tatum for 3.


• Smart made a ridiculous shot falling down to end the quarter.

• Like the energy of this modified second unit of Wannamaker, Ojeleye, Brown, Tatum and Horford.


• They're sizzling now. Great energy, pushing the pace, Ojeleye hits his second 3.


• It's settled into a bit of a back and forth affair.


• Griffin bullies Ojeleye into the post to cut it to 2 and Stevens calls timeout.


• Griffin just hit a 3 from Wellesley to tie the game. He has 20.


• Solid half for the Celtics. It's obvious they're trying to give some guys some rest. Need to do a better job on Griffin. Theis is a minus-15

• A bunch of missed 3s on both sides to start the game.


• Gordon Hayward picks up where he left off last night with a drive to give the C's the early lead, then a steal and a slam by Jayson Tatum.


• Another turnover and drive by Hayward, and then Marcus Morris in the lane. Timeout Detroit. This one might be over early.


• Ok, maybe not


• Detroit goes on a 20-5 run.


• Ojeleye stops the bleeding with a corner 3.


• Wannamaker had a bad turnover for a dunk.


• After the hot start, the Celtics have been a step slow on everything on the defensive end.


• Wannamaker 3 and a Horford long 2 gets the Celtics back into the gamebefore the end of the quarter.

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• The Celtics will be without Kyrie Irving for a second straight game due to a knee sprain. He's expected to return after the All-Star break. Fill-in starting point guard Terry Rozier is also doubtful with flu-like symptoms, which could open the door for a start from Jaylen Brown or Gordon Hayward. 


• This is the fourth and final matchup between the Celtics and Pistons this season. Boston is up 2-1 in the head-to-head matchups.


• The Pistons currently sit in the eighth seed after winning four straight games, including a home win over the Nuggets. They also have added some additional reinforcements since the trade deadline as sharpshooter Wayne Ellington made his debut during Monday's win over the Wizards. He struggled off the bench (1-of-7 from deep), but Detroit's bench will be a handful with Ish Smith back healthy along with a couple of shooters in Ellington and Luke Kennard. 


• The Celtics will have their hands full with the Pistons frontcourt on the offensive glass tonight without Aron Baynes in the fold. Andre Drummond is grabbing over five offensive rebounds per game and has feasted on the glass against Horford before. It will take a team effort of boxing out to keep him from wreaking havoc with second-chance points all night long against an undersized center rotation of Horford and Theis.