Final: Celtics 114, Pistons 93 -- Young guns lead the blowout

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each scored 26 points on a combined 19/30 FG, helping the shorthanded Celtics overcome a brutal shooting night from Kemba Walker (2 points) and run away with a 109-88 win over a struggling Pistons squad. Brown and Tatum combined to score 30 of Boston's 32 points in one stretch of the second and third quarter, to help turn a tight first half affair into a blowout by the end of the third quarter.

With Marcus Smart and Gordon Hayward sidelined, the Celtics also got terrific production out of their bench, including a career-high 19 points from Grant Williams on 8-of-10 FG. Romeo Langford also scored his first NBA basket and delivered a number of solid takes to chip in with 6 points. Thon Maker had a game-high 15 points for the visitors. 

The win puts the Celtics into a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference and improves their record at home to 11-1 on the year. Boston return to action on Sunday night with a visit from Terry Rozier and the Hornets.

Second Quarter Notes

• Jaylen Brown did a nice job captaining bench unit at the start of the second quarter, which helped build a double-digit lead for C's. He's entering triple-double watch territory with 5 rebounds and 4 assists before the break.


• Boston's bench production has been terrific early on despite being shorthanded. 21 points already in the first half spread across five players.


• Javonte Green playing some of his best minutes as a Celtic with six points including a rim-rocking dunk in transition.


• Pistons offense really has nothing going outside of their 3-point shooting and Derrick Rose. 50 percent from downtown but can't manufacture anything else.


• Brown closes out the half with a 10-3 run all by himself for the C's, knocking down three 3s in 92 seconds, including an and-one. He's got a team-high 19 points, while Tatum has chipped in with 15 points.

• Red-hot start for Jayson Tatum who knocked down his first three jumpers of the game, scoring seven points over the opening five minutes.


• C's not exactly sharp with their perimeter defense early on, allowing the Pistons to knock down three of their first five shots from downtown.


• Tough early missed dunk for Theis who clearly felt the presence of Drummond in the paint.


• Tatum was not shy all quarter long about taking command of the Celtics' offense, hoisting 11 of the first 27 shot attempts of the game for Boston. He led all scorers in the first with 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting.


• Some positive minutes for Romeo Langford, who scored his first NBA basket on a lefty finger roll drive to the rim.


• Grant Williams with another 3. He's now 3-of-5 in his last four games from deep after starting the year 0-of-24.

• Gordon Hayward's foot MRI comes back negative, Smart still recovering from eye infection


• The Pistons will be down three rotation pieces in Blake Griffin, Luke Kennard and Christian Wood. Former BC product Reggie Jackson also remains sidelined as he has played just two games this year.


• Brad Stevens on matching up with the Pistons: "I think the guys that are available that are playing have always given us fits. You start with Drummond and Rose. I think Rose has been terrific. I haven't watched them all the way through the season, when they have gotten three of four against the Pacers, they won at Houston the other day without Griffin for most off the game, without Drummond. But Rose in the late game has made a number of plays that have won games. So a lot of shooting around him and I think they are fourth in the league in 3-point shooting. So if we don't clean up our stuff from the other night, then we could be in trouble from behind the line. If you get in trouble behind the line against them, then it opens up all those rolls and dunks and lobs and all that stuff."


• Look for bigger minutes for Enes Kanter as he battles with the best rebounder in the league in Drummond tonight on the block.