2-6 Detroit 109 Boston 102

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Detroit 109 Boston 102

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Nothing is going right for one of the most successful franchises in the history of the NBA.

The last-place Boston Celtics look to snap out of a month-long funk when they visit the Eastern Conference-best Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.

The Celtics (12-34) set a franchise record with their 14th consecutive loss Friday night, 100-89 to the Los Angeles Clippers. Boston hasn't won since a 128-119 victory over Memphis - the only team in the league with a worse record than the Celtics - on Jan. 5.

NBA

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 6 (AP) -- Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers knows that his team would struggle to beat anyone in the NBA at the moment.

Trying to beat the Detroit Pistons with newly acquired Chris Webber was nearly impossible.

Webber had 17 points and six assists as the Pistons put on a passing clinic for three quarters while handing the Celtics their 15th straight loss, 109-102 on Tuesday night.

NBA

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The Detroit Pistons' minds didn't seem to be on the game in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.

At least they waited until the fourth, riding a 22-point lead, to disengage from a game against an opponent who had lost 14 straight entering Tuesday.

The Pistons (29-18) won, 109-102, in a freewheeling, smile-infused, should-have-been-a-blowout tainted only by the glazed-eyes look in the fourth quarter.

"We came and did what we were supposed to do," said point guard Chauncey Billups, who finished with 24 points in 37 minutes, probably more than he counted on. "We came out, we jumped on them. Of course, they kept fighting. They're young and scrappy, a pesky team. But we did what we're supposed to do."

Free Press

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Richard Hamilton has won both an NBA and an NCAA championship. But the Pistons' shooting guard can empathize with the Boston Celtics, who left the Palace on Tuesday night riding a 15-game losing streak.

"We only won (29) games my rookie season in Washington," Hamilton said in a distressful voice before Tuesday's game. "That's why I always go out and play hard. I ain't trying to get back to that."

The Pistons haven't had a losing streak longer than three games this season, and last year, they never lost more than twice in a row.

Free Press

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AUBURN HILLS -- Chauncey Billups scored 24 points and Antonio McDyess added 18 in just 20 minutes to help the Detroit Pistons hand the Boston Celtics their 15th straight loss, 109-102 on Tuesday night.

Chris Webber had 17 points and he combined with McDyess to shoot 17-for-22 against Boston's overmatched interior defense.

The Celtics, who extended the worst losing streak in franchise history, haven't won since a 128-119 victory in Memphis on Jan. 5. They have allowed at least 100 points in five straight games.

Detroit News

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Photo Gallery

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AUBURN HILLS -- Richard Hamilton was the only starter still in the game. The four others were lounging and laughing on the bench, having sat down after building a 24-point lead with 9:22 left in Tuesday night's game.

"I wasn't expecting to have to come back into the game," Chauncey Billups said.

Neither did Chris Webber nor Tayshaun Prince. But after the Celtics ran off 13 straight points, coach Flip Saunders reinserted them.

Detroit News

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AUBURN HILLS -- This wasn't a fair fight.

As Celtics coach Doc Rivers said afterward, "I don't think we ever really had a chance."

The downtrodden Celtics again were without their leading scorer, Paul Pierce (left foot), and they limped into The Palace on Tuesday on a franchise-worst 14-game losing streak.

Make that 15.

The Pistons built a 24-point lead and survived a sloppy patch in the fourth quarter to win their fourth straight, 109-102.

Detroit News

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DETROIT -- Any hope of ending the franchise-record losing streak disappeared in the second quarter. Any hope of salvaging a modicum of respect disappeared in the third. Any hope of staying composed in the face of mounting frustration disappeared in the fourth when Doc Rivers picked up a technical arguing against a foul assessed Al Jefferson. To be fair, it was a bad call in a game with little good to report about the Celtics.

Rivers may have been tempted to keep arguing until he picked up a second technical and ejection; that way he would not have had to watch Detroit dismantle Boston on the way to a 109-102 win at the Palace of Auburn Hills last night.

Globe

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - In the course of running up a franchise record 15 straight losses, several times the Celtics have been able to find silver linings in their efforts.

Even under the circumstances, this was bad. The Pistons came in hot, while the Celts were a match for the frigid temperatures outside. Still the C’s managed to undercut expectations in a 109-102 loss.

Detroit was allowed to shoot 66 percent from the floor through three quarters and 58 percent for the game. The hosts were generally unfazed by the fact the Celts hit 56 percent themselves, for that figure was grossly inflated by the C’s canning 81 percent in the last period. This wasn’t really a contest after the Pistons broke away from a three-point game with 10 straight points at the end of the first quarter and start of the second.

Herald

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers knows that his team would struggle to beat anyone in the NBA at the moment.

Trying to beat the Detroit Pistons with newly acquired Chris Webber was nearly impossible.

Webber had 17 points and 6 assists as the Pistons put on a passing clinic for three quarters while handing the Celtics their 15th straight loss, 109-102, last night.

Providence Journal

[Boonader93]

I Never Watch Pistons And I Watch It For The First Time Tho A Whole Game And We Won And I Have To Say Pistons Played Hard So Did Boston But At The End They Losted It.

[LaxD]

Originally Posted by Boonader93

I Never Watch Pistons And I Watch It For The First Time Tho A Whole Game And We Won And I Have To Say Pistons Played Hard So Did Boston But At The End They Losted It.

Why did you bring this thread back?

[Boonader93]

Hmmmm Becasue It Was The Only Game I Watched And I Hate Backetball!!!