The Boston series will not pass the All-Star Game. In full revival after a very average first half of the season, the Celtics gave up in the last seconds on Wednesday at home (111-112) against the Detroit Pistons, themselves in great difficulty in February with eight losses in a row since the 30 January.
A basket from Jerami Grant (24 points), author of eleven points and an assist in the last five minutes, followed by a counter by Isaiah Stewart on Jaylen Brown (31 points) twelve seconds from the end put an end to the beautiful pass from Boston which had, on Tuesday, passed 48 points in Philadelphia (135-87) for a ninth success in a row.
The Celtics squandered an eight-point lead (106-98) just over four minutes from time. And Jayon Tatum (22 points) missed the last shot to snatch victory. French playmaker Killian Hayes played 18 minutes coming off the bench for 4 points and 2 assists.
Chicago leader in the East, DeRozan continues its momentum
Chicago will pass the All-Star Game for first place in the Eastern Conference, alone or tied with Miami if the Heat win next night in Charlotte. Winners of Sacramento (125-118), the Bulls still relied on a great DeMar DeRozan (38 points), who passed the 35-point mark with more than 50% shooting success (16 of 27) for the seventh time in a row, a first since the great Wilt Chamberlain in the early sixties.