The Detroit Pistons delivered a statement performance on Monday night, defeating the Boston Celtics 112–105 at TD Garden, with Cade Cunningham and a dominant bench unit leading the charge. The win marked Detroit’s response to its narrow loss in Boston less than a month ago and reinforced the Pistons’ credentials as one of the NBA’s most balanced teams this season.

Detroit improved to 21–5 overall and 2–1 against Boston, snapping back after a 117–114 defeat on November 26 that had ended their 13-game winning streak.

Learning from the loss

Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff used the days following that earlier defeat to highlight two areas for improvement: pace and three-point defense. Against a Celtics team that plays at the slowest tempo in the league, Bickerstaff wanted Detroit to speed the game up and close out harder on shooters.

Despite an uneven opening quarter, the Pistons executed the plan. They played faster than in the previous matchup and delivered one of their best perimeter defensive performances of the season, holding Boston to 25.6% shooting from three-point range.

“Definitely wanted to come back and get that game back,” Cunningham said. “They’ve been playing good basketball, so it was a good test for us. Great win for us.”

Cunningham takes control

Cunningham was Detroit’s offensive anchor throughout the night. The All-NBA guard finished with 32 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds, knocking down a season-high six three-pointers despite playing much of the game with five fouls.

His biggest shot came midway through the fourth quarter. With Boston cutting into a 10-point deficit, Cunningham drilled his sixth and final three at the 7:53 mark, stopping the Celtics’ momentum and re-establishing control.

“Just trusting my work,” Cunningham said. “There are games where you’re in foul trouble. It’s about playing smart, not giving up points, and trusting your teammates. They covered for me, and I was able to make plays too.”

Bench unit swings the game

While Cunningham carried the scoring load early, the Pistons’ bench turned the game in Detroit’s favor after halftime. The second unit delivered 47 points, providing energy, defense, and timely shot-making.

Caris LeVert led all reserves with 13 points, including 11 in the third quarter, while Jaden Ivey added 10 points, three rebounds, and two steals in just 20 minutes. Their combined impact fueled a 32–24 third-quarter run, flipping a four-point halftime deficit into a Detroit lead.

One defining sequence came late in the third quarter when LeVert assisted Ivey on a driving layup, then followed it with a steal and dunk on the next possession.

Green seals momentum

Javonte Green delivered perhaps the most decisive stretch of the night. Shortly after Cunningham’s clutch three, Green hit a triple of his own to make it 101–93 with just over six minutes remaining. On the next defensive possession, he jumped a passing lane, stole the ball, and finished with a one-handed dunk over Derrick White, silencing the crowd.

Green finished with eight points and three steals, setting the tone defensively as Detroit closed the game.

Celtics stars kept in check

Boston leaned heavily on Jaylen Brown, who posted 34 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Derrick White added 31 points, hitting five threes. However, Detroit’s disciplined defense limited Boston’s supporting cast and prevented the Celtics from finding consistent rhythm from deep.

Notes from the win

• Zone defense remains a challenge: Boston’s switch to zone in the first quarter sparked a 14–0 run, exposing a familiar weakness for Detroit.
• Duren struggles: Jalen Duren endured arguably his toughest game of the season, finishing with six points and three rebounds while battling foul trouble. Bickerstaff leaned on Isaiah Stewart during Detroit’s third-quarter surge.

A defining road victory

For Detroit, this was more than just another win. It was a composed, disciplined response against an elite opponent on the road—one that showcased Cunningham’s leadership and the Pistons’ growing depth.

With pace, defense, and bench production clicking, the Pistons sent a clear message: this team learns quickly, and it’s built to win big games.

Teenage sensation Cooper Flagg delivered a historic performance on Thursday night, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 40 or more points, even as the Dallas Mavericks fell 140-133 after overtime to the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

The 18-year-old forward, selected first overall in this year’s NBA Draft, put on a spectacular show at the Delta Center, finishing with 42 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Flagg’s scoring outburst rewrote the record books and provided a rare bright spot for Dallas in an otherwise frustrating loss.

Historic night for the No.1 pick

With his 42-point effort, Flagg surpassed NBA legends by becoming the youngest player ever to reach the 40-point mark in a single game. Only Cliff Robinson (45), GG Jackson (44), and LeBron James (43) have scored more points in a game as teenagers.

Flagg also matched Mark Aguirre’s franchise record for most points by a Mavericks rookie in a single game. He is now just the third teenager in the NBA’s 79-year history, after LeBron James and Kevin Durant, to record 40 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the same game.

The performance came just days before Flagg’s 19th birthday, further underlining the scale of his achievement.

Mavericks let late lead slip

Dallas appeared in control for much of the night. The Mavericks led 75-71 at halftime, with Flagg already tallying 24 points, and later stretched their advantage to 124-116 late in the fourth quarter.

However, defensive lapses allowed Utah to claw back into the contest. The Jazz overturned the eight-point deficit to take a 129-127 lead, before Max Christie stepped to the line and calmly sank two free throws with under five seconds remaining to force overtime.

Jazz take over in overtime

Once in overtime, momentum swung decisively in Utah’s favour. The Jazz dominated the extra period, securing their 10th win of the season.

Keyonte George led Utah with 37 points, while Lauri Markkanen added 33, overpowering a Mavericks side that struggled to recover after surrendering control late in regulation.

The result leaves the Jazz 10th in the Western Conference, while the Mavericks sit 12th.

Who is Cooper Flagg?

Standing 6ft 8in, Flagg’s rise has been meteoric. He became the first freshman ever named Maine Player of the Year after leading Nokomis Regional High School to a state title in 2021.

He later transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, where his dominance earned him USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2022) and National High School Player of the Year (2024) honours. Flagg also played a key role in USA’s Under-17 World Cup triumph in 2022, earning all-tournament selection.

Before entering the NBA, Flagg starred at Duke University, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in the 2024–25 season. Duke reached the Final Four, and Flagg was named National College Player of the Year.

Since making his NBA debut for Dallas against the San Antonio Spurs in October, Flagg is averaging 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists across his first 25 games.

A star moment, even in defeat

While the loss will sting for Dallas, Cooper Flagg’s performance offered a glimpse of a special future. On a night when history was made, the teenager showed why he was the No.1 pick—and why the NBA’s next era may already have its newest star.

Christmas night belonged to Nikola Jokic once again. On what Nuggets fans proudly call “Jokmas,” the reigning MVP delivered one of the most dominant performances of the NBA season as the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Houston Rockets 128-125 in overtime at Ball Arena.

Jokic finished with an extraordinary 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, recording a triple-double that carried Denver through a tense, physical contest. When Jokic fouled out in overtime, Jamal Murray stepped into the spotlight, sealing the victory with clutch shot-making and poise under pressure.

Murray closes after Jokic fouls out

Jokic’s night nearly ended in heartbreak after his potential game-winning three-pointer at the end of regulation rattled off the back iron. Still, Denver entered overtime with momentum.

After Jokic picked up his sixth foul early in the extra period, the responsibility shifted to Murray. The veteran guard delivered, finishing with 35 points, including key buckets that kept Houston at bay.

The Rockets had one last chance to force double overtime, but Alperen Sengun’s game-tying three-point attempt missed late, allowing Denver to escape with the win.

Bench sparks Denver early

The Nuggets did not start the game with urgency, particularly in the first quarter. However, Denver’s bench unit flipped the script.

An early injury to Peyton Watson (right hip contusion) forced coach Michael Malone to adjust his rotation, bringing Zeke Nnaji into extended minutes. Nnaji responded with energy and solid defense, helping stabilize the second unit.

Jonas Valanciunas was dominant inside early, scoring 8 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting in the first half. Tim Hardaway Jr. added offensive punch, finishing the half with 10 points.

Notably, Denver was +4 in non-Jokic minutes during the first half, compared to just +1 when Jokic was on the floor, underscoring the bench’s importance.

Defensive surge in the second quarter

Denver’s defense came alive in the second quarter, holding Houston to just 21 points. The Rockets grew increasingly frustrated with officiating, resulting in technical fouls on both head coach Ime Udoka and Sengun.

That frustration played into Denver’s hands. The Nuggets seized control of the tempo and carried a 58-51 lead into halftime.

Fourth-quarter duel: Jokic vs Sengun

The final quarter turned into a heavyweight battle between Jokic and Sengun after Valanciunas fouled out midway through the fourth.

Jokic took over, scoring relentlessly from the post, midrange, and perimeter. He reached 37 points before attempting the potential game-winner in the final seconds of regulation.

Sengun responded shot-for-shot, keeping Houston alive, but Jokic’s presence dictated every possession until overtime.

A Jokmas classic

Though Jokic fouled out before the finish, his imprint was unmistakable. Murray’s late heroics ensured that Jokmas ended the way Denver fans hoped — with a dramatic victory.

The Nuggets showed resilience, depth, and star power, surviving a dangerous Rockets team in one of the most entertaining games of the NBA season.