Pistons, Celtics clash in Beantown
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - The Detroit Pistons will try to continue their recent mastery of the Boston Celtics when the two teams clash Sunday at TD Garden.
The Pistons have won the first two meetings with the Celtics and will host them on April 5 at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Detroit has won three in a row and six of the past seven encounters with Boston.
Detroit and Boston have split the last 14 games in Beantown.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Pistons hope to get back on track and have lost two in a row and nine of their last 11 games, including Friday's 114-101 setback at Minnesota. Greg Monroe totaled 20 points and 15 rebounds for the fading Pistons, while Brandon Jennings and Will Bynum added 17 points apiece.
"We spent the better part of two days showing them and talking to them about (Minnesota's) transitions, their outlet passes, who leaks out. You can show it, walk through it, demonstrate it, but sometimes until you're faced with it, you're not prepared to stop it. And we weren't prepared," Detroit interim head coach John Loyer said.
Detroit has lost eight in a row on the road and is 10-18 as the guest this season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Celtics will close out a five-game homestand and recorded a 91-84 victory over the Brooklyn Nets Friday night. Rajon Rondo had 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for Boston, which overcame 28 turnovers by outrebounding the Nets, 51-28.
"Obviously the difference in the game for us," Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said. "We shared the ball pretty well with our team, and theirs."
Jeff Green and Jerryd Bayless scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the Celtics, who had lost two straight and seven of eight games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Boston has a 13-19 home record this season and will visit Indiana Tuesday.