Boston rested its starters in the fourth quarter while beating up on a non-contender for the second straight home game. But in between was a 104-93 loss at Cleveland that could be a more important measurement of where the Celtics stand in the playoff hunt.
Will Bynum had 16 points and seven assists, and Jason Maxiell had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who lost their second straight game and their ninth out of 11.
Rookie Jonas Jerebko scored all 10 of his points in the third quarter.
Detroit lost starting forward Tayshaun Prince with 4:53 left in the first quarter, when he was kneed in the back by Maxiell. Prince fell backward into Maxiell’s knee, then remained on the floor for several minutes, holding his back, before limping off with assistance.
He did not return.
Prince, who played 82 games in each of the previous six seasons, missed 26 games early this season with a back injury.
Pierce scored 12 points in the first 6:39 of the game and helped the Celtics open an 18-point lead in the first quarter. He played just 30 seconds in the second quarter, when the Celtics used a 19-5 run to open a 29-point lead, before picking up his third foul.
He wasn’t needed much in the second half, either.
Boston led by as many as 33 points, 82-49, but the Pistons cut it to 19 at the end of three.
Notes
Another development that Red Auerbach would have never allowed: Fans did the wave in the second quarter. Longtime observers said they could not remember that happening at a Celtics home game, ever. … Allen passed George Gervin and moved into 31st place on the NBA’s career scoring list with 20,716. … Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey missed his fifth straight game since collapsing on the bench during a game at Cleveland and being taken away on a stretcher. … Three-time Slam Dunk Competition champion Nate Robinson was called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim after a breakaway dunk in the final minute. … The Celtics beat Indiana by 19 on Friday.