Detroit Pistons beat Phoenix Suns 108-105 with a decisive 4th quarter
Detroit Pistons beat Phoenix 108-105 thanks to a decisive 4th quarter
Jan 16, 2026
Nicolas Flamecourt
Pistons dominate Boston 104-103 thanks to a great Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris shined with 25 points to lead Detroit to a crucial victory over the Celtics. The Pistons consolidate their first place in the East with a 6-game lead over Boston.
Jan 19, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) drives against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Photo Credit : © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The Detroit Pistons won a battle at the top against the Boston Celtics (104-103) Monday night at Little Caesars Arena. This victory allows the Pistons to extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to 6 games over their opponents of the evening.
Tobias Harris, the man of the match in crucial moments
Tobias Harris was the main architect of this victory with 25 points on 11/25 shooting, along with 3 rebounds. The veteran with 15 NBA seasons particularly shined in the money-time, scoring two decisive 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter.
« He was huge, and it’s consistent. When we need him the most, we know we can count on him, » said coach J.B. Bickerstaff. « Whether it’s to calm us down, find a basket, communicate or bring the guys together. That’s why he’s so valuable to us. »
« He’s a super talented player playing at an all-time level right now… at the end of the day, I know he’s going to hit tough shots but it’s just about making those looks hard for him. »
Tobias Harris on taking on the defensive assignment in the 4Q guarding Jaylen Brown! pic.twitter.com/C9Q6YNqxAO
— NBA (@NBA) January 20, 2026
Harris’s most important basket came with 1 minute 32 remaining, a 3-pointer from the corner that gave the Pistons a five-point lead (104-99). This shot stopped the Celtics’ comeback dead in its tracks as they threatened to retake the lead.
Cade Cunningham, named an All-Star Game starter a few hours before the game, struggled offensively with only 16 points on 4/17 shooting. Nevertheless, the point guard compensated with 14 assists without a single turnover, recording his 22nd double-double of the season.
A solid defense against Boston’s prolific offense
The Pistons were able to contain the Celtics’ offense, particularly from 3-point range where Boston only converted 13 of their 41 attempts (31.7%). This defensive performance proves crucial against a team ranked seventh in the NBA in this category with 37% shooting.
« They want to take a large number of 3-pointers, no matter how you defend them, » explained Bickerstaff. « They attempted 41, but many were heavily contested. Holding them to 31% and only 13 makes, that gives you a chance if you can defend the 3-point line against them. »
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 32 points and 11 rebounds, but his game-winning shot at the buzzer hit the rim. Jalen Duren contributed 18 points and 9 rebounds for Detroit, taking advantage of the Celtics’ lack of depth in the paint.
This victory confirms the Pistons’ dominance over the Celtics this season (3-1 in their head-to-head matchups) and reinforces their status as favorites in the East with a 31-10 record.
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