However, the matchup was a reminder of the best the Eastern Conference has to offer Boston right now as trade season begins. Boston fell to 1-2 on the season against the Pistons with the 112-105 defeat but there was a consensus that this game resembled a playoff contest.

The Boston Celtics dropped a 112-105 home game to the Detroit Pistons on Monday despite a 34 point, eight rebound, seven assist performance from star forward Jaylen Brown, causing fans and players to react in late hours of the night.

The Detroit Pistons have won five of their last six matchups, most recently defeating the Atlanta Hawks 142-115 at home last Friday. It was the team’s largest win of the season, and the bench scored a season-high 77 points in the win. 12 players scored at least 7 points, making the Pistons the third team in NBA history to accomplish that feat.

Cade Cunningham scored 32 points and hit a season-high six 3-pointers to lead the Pistons, who improved to 21-5. The Celtics, who handed Detroit one of its five losses on Nov. 26, dropped their second straight game to fall to 15-11.

The Detroit Pistons, first in the East, visit the Boston Celtics, third in the East, in a game streamed nationally on Peacock. Here's our prediction.

Thanks to Brown's big half, the Celtics took a 57-53 lead into halftime, but they fell behind late and couldn't catch the Pistons.

The Boston Celtics may be without one of their key players in Monday night's game against the Detroit Pistons.

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