Celtics spoil Pistons’ shot at franchise history: ‘We all wanted it tonight’

Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and the Celtics finally stopped Detroit’s run, handing the Pistons a 117-114 loss on Wednesday and ending a franchise record-tying winning streak.

Detroit had a shot to stand alone in team history. Instead, the streak halts at 13, matching the 1989-90 and 2003-04 championship teams.

Brown led Boston with 33 points and 10 boards. White took over late with 11 of his 27 in the 4:30.

Cade Cunningham kept Detroit afloat all night with 42 points and nearly dragged them to 14 straight.

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said his group knows exactly what slipped away.

“We understand it is one game, and we understand also that we didn’t play our best basketball,” Bickerstaff told reporters. “There were things we could have done better and we still put ourselves in position at the end. We are still learning.”

Detroit trailed by three in the final seconds when Cunningham was fouled as he rose for a three near midcourt.

After review, officials ruled he was shooting.

Cunningham made the first two and missed the third. Payton Pritchard secured the rebound, hit two free throws and Boston intercepted a final pass to seal it.

Cunningham did not hide the disappointment.

“We all wanted it tonight, we all wanted 14 (straight) wins,” he said. “It is a big deal. We wanted to be on that side of history. But it did not happen. We cannot go back. The game is over. It is about how we respond.”

Pritchard added 16 for Boston, which has won five of six.

Detroit falls to 15-3, still sitting atop the East after a month that changed its outlook entirely.