The Boston Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons 117-114 in an NBA Cup group stage game on November 26, 2025, ending Detroit's 13-game winning streak. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points and 10 rebounds, while Cade Cunningham scored a game-high 42 points for the Pistons. The close contest came down to a missed free throw by Cunningham in the final seconds.
The Boston Celtics hosted the Detroit Pistons at TD Garden for an East Group B matchup in the 2025 NBA Cup on Wednesday, November 26, with tipoff at 5 p.m. ET. Entering the game, the Pistons held a strong 15-2 record and a 2-0 mark in group play, riding a 13-game winning streak. The Celtics, at 9-8 overall and 1-2 in the group, faced elimination with a loss.
Detroit stayed competitive throughout, but Boston pulled ahead late. With 6.3 seconds left, Anfernee Simons made two free throws to give the Celtics a 115-112 lead. Cunningham was fouled and attempted three free throws to tie the game; he sank the first two but missed the third, drawing roars from the TD Garden crowd. Payton Pritchard then added two more free throws for the final 117-114 score, and a poor pass by Jalen Duren prevented Detroit from getting a final shot.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, at the 9:23 mark with Boston leading by five, Hugo González approached the foul line amid a charged atmosphere. Cade Cunningham rallied his teammates to regain composure, keeping Detroit within striking distance.
Standout performances defined the game. For Boston, Jaylen Brown tallied 33 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Derrick White scored a season-high 27 points, and Payton Pritchard added 14 points; together, White and Pritchard shot 10-of-18 from three-point range. Cunningham led all scorers with 42 points, eight rebounds, and five assists for Detroit, while Jalen Duren contributed 12 points and 16 rebounds.
The victory improved Boston to 10-8, boosting their NBA Cup hopes, while Detroit fell to 15-3. Orlando now leads East Group B at 3-0. Pre-game odds had Detroit as a 2.5-point favorite with an over/under of 231.5 points; the total reached 231, just under the line.
