Boston Celtics: 3 Takeaways From Third Straight Win, 108-105, Over Pistons

The Boston Celtics didn’t play their best game, but they were good enough to win their third consecutive game, defeating the Detroit Pistons, 108-105, at the TD Garden Tuesday.

A man’s confidence is never higher than after a fresh haircut. Like Kanye West, uh uh you can’t tell me nothing type of confidence.

After scoring just 3 points in Saturday’s win in Detroit, Kyrie Irving swapped his baby Afro for a tight fade, then had his best game of the season, scoring a game and season-high 31 points to lead the Boston Celtics past the Detroit Pistons, 108-105, for the second straight game Tuesday at the TD Garden.

Irving drilled three consecutive three-pointers and scored 13 points in a third quarter that saw the Celtics turn a two-point halftime deficit into a 10-point lead. After a lackadaisical first-half effort, Boston turned up the defense in the third quarter, holding Detroit to just 13 points.

The Pistons made a late push, pressing the Celtics to the edge, but the home team came up with key plays in the game’s final minutes to win their third in a row.

Multiple times, Detroit cut the Boston lead to one possession, but each time, Irving and the Celtics answered. After Brad Stevens picked up a technical and Reggie Bullock made the free throw to make it 90-89 Boston with just over 4 minutes remaining, Irving delivered a beautiful hesitation move on his defender for an easy layup.

When Blake Griffin made a sweeping lefty layup to cut the Boston lead to 96-94, Irving responded with a pump-fake, one-dribble pull up off the glass. Jaylen Brown then made his only three of the game with just over a minute remaining, giving Boston a 7-point lead.

Detroit didn’t go quietly, however, as point guard Ish Smith nailed a three with 12 seconds left to pull the Pistons within one, 103-102. On the other end, Jayson Tatum made both free throws, then Marcus Smart tipped away the ensuing inbounds pass and Irving sprinted and dove on the ball before being fouled. Irving made both free throws to put Boston up, 107-102.

Reggie Bullock then banked home a three-pointer to to cut the lead to two, but Tatum made one more free throw before the clock ran out.

The game was much closer than last time, but the result was the same.  Boston improves to 5-2 with the win, while Detroit drops to 4-2. Here are the three keys to the Celtics win.