Experimentation continued in Detroit with Jayson Tatum and Al Horford resting while Jrue Holiday nursed an arm ailment. Small ball built a 20-point advantage, the 16th over Boston’s last 18 games, while double-big looks slammed the door. The Celtics won, 129-102, for their eighth straight win poised to clinch the east’s top seed before the end of the month.
James Wiseman pressured the Celtics early in a spot start in place of late scratch Jalen Duren opposite of Xavier Tillman, who made his first appearance in Boston’s starting lineup next to Kristaps Porzingis.