Everything about the Boston Celtics’ tilt with the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night spelled trap game with a high-profile contest with fellow contending squad the Denver Nuggets two days later and a struggling but scrappy Pistons squad in front of them.
But instead, it was a wire-to-wire win for the Celtics, thanks to their twin stars on the wing Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — but also due to a career night for reserve forward Sam Hauser, who put up 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting off of the bench. With plenty of flashy plays and highlight dunks packed in for good measure, instead of the sometimes-disaster a tilt against Detroit has been of late, it turned out to be one of the most fun games of the season yet for Boston fans.
Let’s take a look at what Celtics and NBA Twitter were saying about the game.
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First quarter
Another start tonight for Grant Williams against Detroit. He started last game and didn't take a shot; just let the offense flow as a unit.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) November 10, 2022
Nice set and outstanding spin by Tatum to get the Celtics on the board.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 10, 2022
Leaving the podium pregame Mazzulla quipped “I’m getting old” as he went down the steps. Off in the distance, you could almost hear Al Horford laugh https://t.co/uHZqV6S3Fj
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) November 10, 2022
Replay looks like Jaylen Brown got kicked in the right ankle. He's slow to go to the line, but stays in the game. #Celtics
— Abby Chin (@tvabby) November 10, 2022
Brogdon as the 6th man doesn’t seem fair
— Brian Barrett (@itsbrianbarrett) November 10, 2022
If Luke Kornet is going to do that goofy contest, then it needs to be called the Korntest.
I will expect no other suggestions except for the Korntest.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 10, 2022
The Cs have a 99.34 defensive rating with Kornet on the floor
— Brian Barrett (@itsbrianbarrett) November 10, 2022
Second quarter
A rare dud outing from the Celtics bench + Tatum unit so far.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) November 10, 2022
Couple of really nice plays out of Jaden Ivey. First, a perfect pass to Duren for a slam off a P&R, then a nice driving layup around Tatum. Glimpse into why Detroit likes him.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) November 10, 2022
Pistons' Isaiah Stewart hit with a technical foul
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) November 10, 2022
Jaylen Brown shot the technical free throw earlier this quarter even though Sam Hauser, who shot 91.7 percent on free throws last season in the G League and 86.6 percent on his college career, was also on the court.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) November 10, 2022
Marcus Smart in complete control throughout that last possession. Knew exactly what he wanted to do and got it to Al Horford in the mismatch. #Celtics
— Abby Chin (@tvabby) November 10, 2022
Sam Hauser’s long 3 was so good the net barely moved. #BleedGreen
— Dan Kelley (@DanKelley66) November 10, 2022
Jaylen is COOKIN tonight pic.twitter.com/eqczKAjrYy
— Celtics Lab Podcast (@CelticsLab) November 10, 2022
This is the 2nd time the Celtics have held an opponent under 50 points in the 1st half this season.
They did it 39 times last season.— Max Lederman (@Max_Lederman) November 10, 2022
Third quarter
Celtics say Malcolm Brogdon has right hamstring tightness, will not return vs. Pistons.
Payton Pritchard time?
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) November 10, 2022
Sam Jones will forever be the king, but Hauser looks capable of surpassing Cassell and Vincent to become the 2nd greatest Sam in Celtics history.
— Mike Dynon ☘️🏀 (@MikeDynon) November 10, 2022
Imagine thinking Jayson Tatum isn’t gonna win MVP.
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) November 10, 2022
Whenever I see a player go off like this I can’t help but think about Klay getting 37 in a quarter. I’ve watched that quarter a dozen times and still don’t understand it.
— Ryan Bernardoni (@dangercart) November 10, 2022
Now on the jumbotron at TD Garden: You guessed it, A$AP Ferg
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) November 10, 2022
Payton Pritchard checking in for his fourth game of the season and gets a big ovation from the Garden crowd.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) November 10, 2022
Celtics lead Detroit, 86-73, with 4:08 left in the 3rd quarter. Pistons are shooting 40 pct from the floor and have missed a bunch of relatively easy stuff around the rim.
If not for their 15 second-chance points, they'd already be on the bus to the airport.
— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) November 10, 2022
Sam Hauser is AUTOMATIC from 3! #BleedGreen
— Amina Smith (@aminajadeTV) November 10, 2022
Fourth quarter
Jayson Tatum just threw one hell of a transition pass through traffic to Payton Pritchard for a layup. That was impressive.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) November 10, 2022
Big MVP chants from the Celtics crowd as they watch Sam Hauser talk to Joe Mazzulla at half court during a free throw by some guy
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) November 10, 2022
Brown is staging an in-game dunk contest.
And it's time to pull all the regulars and let the reserves take this home.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 10, 2022
Sam Hauser with his 1st career 20-point game
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) November 10, 2022
This is the first time in Marcus Smart's career he's had three 10-assist games in a row.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) November 10, 2022
Celtics lead Detroit by 23 with 2:55 left… Gino about to get his first meaningful minutes of the season. pic.twitter.com/R1ExX7g1Sn
— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) November 10, 2022
