BOSTON — The Detroit Pistons threw a monkey wrench into the Boston Celtics’ improbable playoff run on Sunday night.
The Pistons, who rallied from 19 points down to beat the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, tied Sunday’s game on a Reggie Jackson basket with 58.9 seconds left in regulation and then scored the first seven points of overtime to walk off with a 105-97 victory.
The loss was the third straight for the Celtics, who began play Sunday in the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference after moving from ninth to eighth despite losing two games on the road.
Boston (30-39) had won nine of its last 10 at home and led by as many as 10 points in the third quarter Sunday — Detroit winning for only the third time in the last 10 meetings between the teams.
Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored five of his 27 points in overtime for the Pistons (26-44). He also had eight rebounds in the win.
Jackson had 17 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds from his point guard position, while center Andre Drummond had 18 points and 22 rebounds for the Pistons. G Jodie Meeks delivered 14 points and five rebounds off the bench.
Forward Tayshaun Prince, who played nine games for the Celtics earlier this season, hit two big 3-pointers from the right corner in the fourth quarter.
Guard Evan Turner led the Celtics with 23 points, eight assists and six rebounds, while forward Jae Crowder, moved into the starting lineup with guards Isaiah Thomas (back bruise) and Marcus Smart (suspension) out, added 19 points and seven rebounds and forward Brandon Bass 13 points and nine boards.
Forward Kelly Olynyk had nine rebounds and five assists off the bench for Boston, but was just 1-for-9 from the floor.
With the game tied in regulation, Turner had a jumper rim out at one end and Jackson missed at the other end. The Celtics rebounded and called time with 17.2 seconds left, setting up a play for Turner, who lost control of the ball as he went up on Jackson, time expiring.
The Celtics used a 6-0 run at the end of the first half to take a six-point lead at the break and then scored the first four points of the second half for a 10-point advantage. Crowder scored Boston’s last eight points of the half.
The third quarter saw Drummond flex his muscle after one dunk but also saw the big man go 2-for-11 from the foul line, actually making both free shots on one foul and missing the other nine.
Turner hit center Tyler Zeller for a layup in the final second to give the Celtics a six-point lead after three quarters, but the visitors used two baskets by guard Spencer Dinwiddie to tie the game 74-74 with 7:58 left.
NOTES: With G Marcus Smart suspended for a game for delivering a punch to the groin of San Antonio’s Matt Bonner and G Isaiah Thomas missing his seventh straight game with a bruised lower back, F Jae Crowder stepped into the Boston starting lineup, with Evan Turner moving to PG. The Celtics are hoping to get Thomas back midweek. “He did more today, he’s feeling a little bit better,” said coach Brad Stevens. “Now our goal or target is mid-to-late week this week.” … The three players involved in a deadline trade, Boston’s Jonas Jerebko and Gigi Datome and Detroit F Tayshaun Prince, all exchanged hugs and pleasantries with former teammates during warmups. … The Celtics are at Brooklyn Monday night, while the Pistons host the Toronto Raptors Tuesday.
Nuggets 119, Magic 100
ORLANDO, Fla. — Danilo Gallinari scored 40 points and five teammates reached double figures as Denver routed Orlando.
Guard Jameer Nelson, who played eight seasons in Orlando, had 15 points and five assists for the Nuggets, who stopped a three-game losing streak. Forward Kenneth Faried, center Jusuf Nurkic, swingman JJ Hickson and guard Will Barton scored 11 points each for Denver.
Orlando put five players in double figures, led by guard Victor Oladipo’s 21 points.
Kings 109, Wizards 86
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Forward Rudy Gay scored 26 points, and center DeMarcus Cousins returned from a two-game absence to add 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists as Sacramento defeated Washington at Sleep Train Arena.
The Kings posted consecutive victories for the first time in four months.
Gay, coming off a 33-point effort in Sacramento’s 101-91 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, canned 10 of his 19 shots to pace five Kings in double digits. Gay missed the previous two contests because of a strained tendon in his left knee.