Celtics 109, Pistons 102 (OT)
Jared Sullinger scored 10 of his 14 points in overtime as Boston dominated the extra session and handed visiting Detroit its 10th straight setback.
Jeff Green nailed a 3-pointer during an 8-0 run to start overtime and finished with 32 points for the Celtics, who snapped a five-game slide. Kelly Olynyk collected 20 points and seven rebounds off the bench and gave Boston a 103-94 lead on a 3-pointer with 54 seconds left in overtime to help seal it.
Andre Drummond scored a season-high 27 points to go along with 14 rebounds and a season-best five blocks while Greg Monroe scored a season-high 29 points off the bench for the Pistons. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 15 points and hit a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left in overtime to close the gap to 105-102 before Green and Sullinger closed it out at the line.
Caron Butler’s 3-pointer drew the Pistons within 62-61 less than a minute into the fourth but Olynyk scored seven points and handed out a pair of assists during a 13-3 surge that left the Celtics on top 75-64 with 7:26 left. It was an 84-73 edge before Monroe scored 11 straight points for Detroit during a 12-2 run, and Butler’s 3-pointer with 14.1 seconds left knotted it at 88-88.
Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Singler each buried a 3-pointer during an 8-0 burst finishing the second quarter that gave the Pistons a 43-42 lead at the half. The Celtics ended the third with a 7-3 spurt to grab a 61-58 advantage heading to the final 12 minutes.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Boston rookie G Marcus Smart (ankle) returned from a 10-game absence and went 0-of-3 with two assists in five minutes off the bench. … Pistons PG Brandon Jennings recorded 12 assists but was held to one point on 0-of-11 shooting. … Pistons F Josh Smith recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds but fouled out in the fourth quarter.