Pistons-Raptors roundup: Detroit’s Andre Drummond makes half-court shot

“Obviously, it worked”, Caldwell-Pope said. “It was definitely great to see it go in, though, because it gave us the lead”. Against Boston – which entered the game ranked behind only San Antonio in defensive efficiency – the Pistons started slowly but got rolling when the bench sparked a 37-point second quarter.

So does Stevens wish he stuck more to his original “Hack-A-Drummond” strategy that helped Boston get back in the game?

Even further than Wednesday night, it was the best offensive game Caldwell-Pope has turned in during his two-plus-year career. Center Andre Drummond notched his league-high 23rd double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Pistons (15-12).Point guard Isaiah Thomas tied his career high with 38 points for the Celtics (14-12). Caldwell-Pope and Jackson combined for 26 of the Pistons’ 34 points in the fourth quarter, with both players hitting clutch free throws late in the contest to hold off the Celtics’ late rally.

But mistakes continued, with Thomas fouling Jackson in 3-point range as the shot-clock buzzer sounded. “I’m just here to do what’s best for the team”.

Jared Sullinger had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Boston. Anthony Tolliver then hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 97-85 with 8 minutes left. They came into Wednesday’s win over the Celtics averaging 106.6 points over their last nine games.

Former Piston Jonas Jerebko nailed three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter for the Celtics (14-12), who lost at home Tuesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. During a third-quarter stretch lasting less than a minute of game action, the Celtics intentionally fouled the Pistons big man – a career 39 percent free throw shooter – on three consecutive possessions to slow the game to a crawl.

The Pistons now led by 14 points with 7:50 left, and though an angered Sullinger went on a one-man 5-0 run, the Celtics were severely out of rhythm. The Celtics are 4-1 in the second half of back-to-backs this season and have won 10 straight road games in that scenario since last season, defying the odds of what is usually the most hard single-game challenge for National Basketball Association teams. He sank all three free throws and had another nice trip down the lane for a layup. He made the free throw, pulling Boston within 114-113.

NOTES: Pistons PG Brandon Jennings, out since rupturing his left Achilles tendon in January, is expected to begin a rehab assignment with their D-League affiliate in Grand Rapids on Saturday. Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy took Drummond out to counter Stevens’ strategy, and Detroit’s guards took over down the stretch.

That helped Boston narrow the gap to 75-69, and when Baynes was forced to leave the game after getting hit in his already-broken nose, the Celtics intentionally fouled Joel Anthony.